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Ship-monitoring satellites size of a shoebox will help pinpoint migrant vessels

Migrants crossing the English Channel can be spotted by the shoebox-sized devices - AFP
Migrants crossing the English Channel can be spotted by the shoebox-sized devices - AFP

Shoebox-sized satellites that can monitor shipping movements and help spot illegal and migrant boats will be launched on Monday.

The satellites, built by engineers at Spire Global UK in Glasgow, are part-funded by the UK Space Agency and can calculate the arrival times of ships to help authorities manage moving goods in and out of Britain.

But they will also be able to help with picking up unusual activity which could indicate illegal fishing, piracy, accidents or people trafficking.

The satellites will be launched from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome in Russia at 12.20pm British time. A further two will be on board an Indian PSLV launcher, due for launch on Nov 1.

Amanda Solloway, the science minister, said: "A satellite the size of a shoebox may sound like a gimmick, but these nanosatellites are driving a revolution in how we observe planet Earth - with each holding the power and intelligence of a regular satellite.

"The Government is ensuring the UK remains at the forefront of this revolution and the Spire nanosatellites we have backed will help us do just that."

The satellites each have machine-learning algorithms that can predict the locations of boats, track their whereabouts and estimated arrival times at ports, allowing port businesses and authorities to manage busy docks safely. They will be joining a fleet of more than 100 objects tracking maritime movements in low Earth orbit.

Under International Maritime Organisation law, ships must have automatic identification systems installed, but criminals often turn off the software.

Governments are increasingly looking for satellites that can pick up signals even when the trackers are turned off - known as "dark vessel detection".

Drug trafficking, migrant smuggling and piracy are all problems in major shipping areas and the new satellites should help to monitor unusual activity.

It is estimated that around one in five fish is caught by breaking the law and the illegal fishing industry is now worth £19.4 billion worldwide.

The nanosatellites were developed under the European Space Agency Pioneer programme - a partnership co-funded by the UK Space Agency.