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Shipping: Identification

Asked by Rupert LoweRestore BritainDepartment for TransportTabled Answered 3 July 2026UIN 14297

The question

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many cases of vessels switching off or falsifying their Automatic Identification System (AIS) data have been identified in UK waters in the last 12 months.

Answered by Keir Mather

The Government continuously monitors UK waters to ensure the safety of mariners, protect the marine environment and uphold the UK's national security. Instances of vessels switching off their AIS are monitored on a case-by-case basis.

We are unable to provide further information as this could compromise our ability to successfully act in the future, only benefiting our adversaries.

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