Uncovering sanction evasion: Using Seasearcher’s Cargo Risk to reveal the truth

Seasearcher now integrates Vortexa’s real-time energy and maritime data analytics into its Cargo Risk module, combining it with Seasearcher’s established risk and compliance capabilities. This unified platform simplifies the evaluation of risks associated with each vessel by leveraging data from two authoritative sources.

The challenge – with a real example

Investigating vessels that engage in deceptive behaviours, such as AIS gaps or spoofing, pose a serious challenge. It’s often difficult and time consuming to determine what cargo was on board during these dark activities.

Consider a recent investigation undertaken by our team on the gas carrier Ullswater (IMO 9139945). During a voyage between UAE ports, Ullswater experienced a six-day AIS gap. Seasearcher indicated a possible high-risk dark port call in Iran since the AIS gap gave Ullswater enough time to reach and load cargo from multiple compatible ports in the region. This can be seen in the image below.

Source: Seasearcher Advanced Risk & Compliance

Cross referencing the AIS gap in Ullswater’s voyage with Cargo Risk, it paints a clearer picture of the events that likely unfolded during this six-day dark period on the voyage.

Source: Seasearcher Cargo Risk

Moreover, this cargo event was verified using Vortexa’s data , which is reviewed by a dedicated team of analysts specializing in cargo flows, particularly those originating from sanctioned locations.

"At Vortexa, we believe that transparency in global energy flows is essential to creating market efficiency and maintaining trust in global trade. By combining our market-leading real-time cargo intelligence with Seasearcher’s powerful risk and compliance framework, organisations can uncover hidden patterns, verify cargo origins with confidence, and take decisive action in a complex geopolitical landscape."

— Fabio Kuhn, Founder & CEO

Value to Compliance and Risk Management

When investigating deceptive shipping events, having multiple data sources corroborating the same story can provide the assurance needed when making high stakes decisions. Seasearcher Cargo Risk provides actionable insights on cargo origin, voyage events, and compliance with multiple international sanctions regimes, helping you detect risks with precision and make confident decisions.