By Veronica Uy
The Philippines has bolstered its maritime domain awareness capabilities especially in the West Philippine Sea after gaining access to Canada’s easy-to-use system that is able in near real -ime to track vessels that turn off their location-transmitting devices, it was learned recently.
At the 8th anniversary of the Permanent Court of Arbitration’s ruling rejecting China’s enforcement of its nine-dash line, Canada’s Ambassador to the Philippines David Hartman emphasized Canada’s commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific.
“The Indo-Pacific region, a nexus of global trade and strategic interest, is witnessing an unprecedented rise in security threats ranging from traditional military tensions to non-traditional threats such as malicious cyber activity, transnational crime, and climate-induced disasters,” he said.
Due to the region’s importance, the ambassador said, Canada’s broader Indo-Pacific strategy includes increased naval presence, participation in joint exercises, and a commitment to environmental protection.
Canada’s support for the Philippines comes amid ongoing tensions in the South China Sea. The ambassador reiterated Canada’s condemnation of China’s actions against Philippine vessels and called for upholding the rule of law in the maritime domain.
In October 2023, a memorandum of understanding was signed granting 16 agencies and departments of the Philippine government access to the Dark Vessel Detection (DVD) program.
The DVD program is a cloud-based, multi-layered sensor satellite surveillance program that integrates data from multiple satellite systems to detect, identify, classify, and track vessels in near real-time.
“Now, even if a vessel switches off its tracking system, the Philippines will not only be able to find it, but in many cases, authorities will be able to identify the precise vessel with a high degree of confidence,” the ambassador said.
“Importantly, this includes cases of AIS (Automatic Identification System) spoofing, where a vessel intentionally broadcasts false information, for example, when a foreign coastguard or naval vessel may attempt to portray themselves as a fishing or cargo ship,” he added.
The new system will provide the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) with real-time data on the location and movement of vessels in Philippine waters. This information will be crucial for the PCG to identify and deter illegal activities, such as illegal fishing, piracy, and smuggling.
The system’s user-friendly interface is designed to be accessible to PCG personnel with varying levels of technical expertise.
The DVD program is part of Canada’s ongoing efforts to strengthen its relationship with the Philippines. The new ship tracking system will play a vital role in helping the Philippines to ensure the security of its waters and protect its national interests.
The two countries are close partners on a range of issues, including maritime security, trade, and development.
Ambassador Hartman said both countries must act together “to address the security challenges that confront us, leveraging the strength of our partnerships in the spirit of cooperation that defines the Canada-Philippines relationship.”
