Mark Douglas
@maritimekiwi.bsky.social
Let’s chat about ships: www.starboardintelligence.com, https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-douglas-480953141
Busy week! But the best part about working at @starboardintelligence.com is the ability to bring together commercial and OSINT to show this kind of activity, and then be able to talk about it to the public - and on social media. Let me know what you think of our assessment of the vessel types!
While standard monitoring systems showed empty ocean, Starboard successfully detected and tracked this "dark" PLA(N) Surface Action Group in the Philippine Sea.
We identified a Type 075 LHD, Type 052D Destroyer, Type 054A Frigate, and Type 903A Replenishment vessel.
#MaritimeSecurity #OSINT
We identified a Type 075 LHD, Type 052D Destroyer, Type 054A Frigate, and Type 903A Replenishment vessel.
#MaritimeSecurity #OSINT
December 2, 2025 at 8:19 AM
Busy week! But the best part about working at @starboardintelligence.com is the ability to bring together commercial and OSINT to show this kind of activity, and then be able to talk about it to the public - and on social media. Let me know what you think of our assessment of the vessel types!
Reposted by Mark Douglas
The U.S. Navy aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford arrived in St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands, for a scheduled port visit, Dec. 1, 2025.
Port visits usually last 4 days to allow each duty section to get 3 days off. Likely means no actions until later this week at earliest.
Port visits usually last 4 days to allow each duty section to get 3 days off. Likely means no actions until later this week at earliest.
December 1, 2025 at 4:25 PM
The U.S. Navy aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford arrived in St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands, for a scheduled port visit, Dec. 1, 2025.
Port visits usually last 4 days to allow each duty section to get 3 days off. Likely means no actions until later this week at earliest.
Port visits usually last 4 days to allow each duty section to get 3 days off. Likely means no actions until later this week at earliest.
Reposted by Mark Douglas
Stage 4 Sanctions Evasion: Russia will provide a flag for your ship.
IMO 9293002, the artist previously known as JAGUAR, ARGENT or BLINT now has a new name and flag:
NASLEDIE of Russia.
IMO 9321706 also recently switched to team Russia.
IMO 9293002, the artist previously known as JAGUAR, ARGENT or BLINT now has a new name and flag:
NASLEDIE of Russia.
IMO 9321706 also recently switched to team Russia.
November 30, 2025 at 7:43 PM
Stage 4 Sanctions Evasion: Russia will provide a flag for your ship.
IMO 9293002, the artist previously known as JAGUAR, ARGENT or BLINT now has a new name and flag:
NASLEDIE of Russia.
IMO 9321706 also recently switched to team Russia.
IMO 9293002, the artist previously known as JAGUAR, ARGENT or BLINT now has a new name and flag:
NASLEDIE of Russia.
IMO 9321706 also recently switched to team Russia.
Reposted by Mark Douglas
Two significant takeaways from this:
- done in broad daylight
- done out of range and relative safety of Russian Navy & air power
To compensate Russia would need to devote security teams to every tanker – which even then is no magic cure – at a time when they have manpower issues.
Smart tactics.
- done in broad daylight
- done out of range and relative safety of Russian Navy & air power
To compensate Russia would need to devote security teams to every tanker – which even then is no magic cure – at a time when they have manpower issues.
Smart tactics.
💥🚢 Sea Baby naval drones strike two sanctioned Russian “shadow fleet” tankers in the Black Sea.
Sea Baby naval drones operated by Ukraine’s Security Service (SSU) have struck two sanctioned tankers of Russia’s shadow fleet — KAIRO and VIRAT — in the Black Sea.
Sea Baby naval drones operated by Ukraine’s Security Service (SSU) have struck two sanctioned tankers of Russia’s shadow fleet — KAIRO and VIRAT — in the Black Sea.
November 29, 2025 at 3:59 PM
Two significant takeaways from this:
- done in broad daylight
- done out of range and relative safety of Russian Navy & air power
To compensate Russia would need to devote security teams to every tanker – which even then is no magic cure – at a time when they have manpower issues.
Smart tactics.
- done in broad daylight
- done out of range and relative safety of Russian Navy & air power
To compensate Russia would need to devote security teams to every tanker – which even then is no magic cure – at a time when they have manpower issues.
Smart tactics.
A great two page spread in the Weekend Herald - one on NZ’s two large papers - with yours truely standing over it all looking vaguely annoyed about the whole situation.
November 29, 2025 at 7:07 AM
A great two page spread in the Weekend Herald - one on NZ’s two large papers - with yours truely standing over it all looking vaguely annoyed about the whole situation.
Reposted by Mark Douglas
🚨 BREAKING: Explosion aboard oil tanker KAIROS near the SW Black Sea, close to the Bosporus entrance. Initial reports suggest a drifting mine or possibly a drone strike. Ship is drifting; crew reportedly rescued with injuries. #MaritimeEmergency #BlackSea
SOURCE:https://www.denizhaber.com/
SOURCE:https://www.denizhaber.com/
November 28, 2025 at 3:41 PM
🚨 BREAKING: Explosion aboard oil tanker KAIROS near the SW Black Sea, close to the Bosporus entrance. Initial reports suggest a drifting mine or possibly a drone strike. Ship is drifting; crew reportedly rescued with injuries. #MaritimeEmergency #BlackSea
SOURCE:https://www.denizhaber.com/
SOURCE:https://www.denizhaber.com/
Reposted by Mark Douglas
Gerald R. Ford CSG with planes in the air.
Per Twitter acct "SA Defensa" Ford and two escorts roughly ~77 miles (125 km) off the southeast coast of the DominicanRepublic (🇩🇴).
Geolocation: 17.338906, -69.162219
Almost looks like a PHOTOEX.
Per Twitter acct "SA Defensa" Ford and two escorts roughly ~77 miles (125 km) off the southeast coast of the DominicanRepublic (🇩🇴).
Geolocation: 17.338906, -69.162219
Almost looks like a PHOTOEX.
November 28, 2025 at 1:11 AM
Gerald R. Ford CSG with planes in the air.
Per Twitter acct "SA Defensa" Ford and two escorts roughly ~77 miles (125 km) off the southeast coast of the DominicanRepublic (🇩🇴).
Geolocation: 17.338906, -69.162219
Almost looks like a PHOTOEX.
Per Twitter acct "SA Defensa" Ford and two escorts roughly ~77 miles (125 km) off the southeast coast of the DominicanRepublic (🇩🇴).
Geolocation: 17.338906, -69.162219
Almost looks like a PHOTOEX.
Reposted by Mark Douglas
"The location of the ships has not been revealed. It is also unclear whether the vessels are naval or scientific in nature, but their voyage has triggered enough interest to warrant closer attention."
www.afr.com/politics/fed...
www.afr.com/politics/fed...
Defence forces monitor Chinese flotilla
The vessels may be heading towards Australia, less than a year after a naval task group sparked alarm when it unexpectedly circumnavigated the country.
www.afr.com
November 28, 2025 at 2:28 AM
"The location of the ships has not been revealed. It is also unclear whether the vessels are naval or scientific in nature, but their voyage has triggered enough interest to warrant closer attention."
www.afr.com/politics/fed...
www.afr.com/politics/fed...
Reposted by Mark Douglas
Report from #CREA #CenterForResearchOnEnergyAndCleanAir
#ShadowFleet #Russia #FoC #FlagOfConvenience
@maritimekiwi.bsky.social
@michellewb.bsky.social
@pa.nton.cx
@maikmarahrens.bsky.social
@mercoglianos.bsky.social
@lloydslisted.bsky.social
energyandcleanair.org/publication/...
#ShadowFleet #Russia #FoC #FlagOfConvenience
@maritimekiwi.bsky.social
@michellewb.bsky.social
@pa.nton.cx
@maikmarahrens.bsky.social
@mercoglianos.bsky.social
@lloydslisted.bsky.social
energyandcleanair.org/publication/...
Flags of inconvenience: 113 vessels flying a false flag transported EUR 4.7 bn Russian oil in first three quarters of 2025 – Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air
energyandcleanair.org
November 27, 2025 at 8:58 PM
Reposted by Mark Douglas
#NZ #Navy #HMNZS #Aotearoa transiting #TaiwanStrait
#GCaptain #Taiwan #China
@maritimekiwi.bsky.social
gcaptain.com/new-zealand-...
#GCaptain #Taiwan #China
@maritimekiwi.bsky.social
gcaptain.com/new-zealand-...
New Zealand Navy Ship Made Rare Transit Through Taiwan Strait This Month
The New Zealand navy's largest ship, the oiler HMNZS Aotearoa, made a rare transit through the sensitive Taiwan Strait earlier this month, Defence Minister Judith Collins told Reuters.
gcaptain.com
November 27, 2025 at 12:41 PM
Reposted by Mark Douglas
New Zealand's biggest navy ship made transit through sensitive Taiwan Strait this month
New Zealand's biggest navy ship made transit through sensitive Taiwan Strait this month
Defence Minister Judith Collins said the supply vessel made its way through the Strait at the start of November on its way to the North Asian region.
www.rnz.co.nz
November 27, 2025 at 9:45 AM
New Zealand's biggest navy ship made transit through sensitive Taiwan Strait this month
Reposted by Mark Douglas
Sea Control 590 — Drone Carriers & Salvo Equations
Host Walker D. Mills talks with Capt Colton Byers about how to model the effectiveness of Drone Carriers, and what those models can tell us about the future fleet.
sea-control.simplecast.com/episodes/sea...
Host Walker D. Mills talks with Capt Colton Byers about how to model the effectiveness of Drone Carriers, and what those models can tell us about the future fleet.
sea-control.simplecast.com/episodes/sea...
Sea Control 590: Drone Carriers & Salvo Equations | Sea Control
Host Walker D. Mills interviews Marine Corps Captain Colton Byers about his article for the War Quants substack “Carrier 2.0: The Drone Carrier Revolution.” Their discussion covers salvo equations and...
sea-control.simplecast.com
November 26, 2025 at 9:07 PM
Sea Control 590 — Drone Carriers & Salvo Equations
Host Walker D. Mills talks with Capt Colton Byers about how to model the effectiveness of Drone Carriers, and what those models can tell us about the future fleet.
sea-control.simplecast.com/episodes/sea...
Host Walker D. Mills talks with Capt Colton Byers about how to model the effectiveness of Drone Carriers, and what those models can tell us about the future fleet.
sea-control.simplecast.com/episodes/sea...
Some great, now one year old, article discussing the utility (or lack there of) of these kind of platforms: www.warquants.com/p/carrier-20...
November 27, 2025 at 7:43 AM
Some great, now one year old, article discussing the utility (or lack there of) of these kind of platforms: www.warquants.com/p/carrier-20...
Reposted by Mark Douglas
Royal New Zealand Navy Anzac-class frigate HMNZS Te Kaha (F77) coming into Dunedin, New Zealand - November 27, 2025 SRC: FB- Ship Spotters New Zealand
November 27, 2025 at 4:06 AM
Royal New Zealand Navy Anzac-class frigate HMNZS Te Kaha (F77) coming into Dunedin, New Zealand - November 27, 2025 SRC: FB- Ship Spotters New Zealand
Reposted by Mark Douglas
Critical intelligence from @pa.nton.cx on the registry document, and @maikmarahrens.bsky.social on the immediate operational impact.
This video tracks the rise of the Benin flag: from a single vessel in July to 40+ tankers today. A clear visualization of coordinated identity laundering at scale.
This video tracks the rise of the Benin flag: from a single vessel in July to 40+ tankers today. A clear visualization of coordinated identity laundering at scale.
November 25, 2025 at 9:02 PM
Critical intelligence from @pa.nton.cx on the registry document, and @maikmarahrens.bsky.social on the immediate operational impact.
This video tracks the rise of the Benin flag: from a single vessel in July to 40+ tankers today. A clear visualization of coordinated identity laundering at scale.
This video tracks the rise of the Benin flag: from a single vessel in July to 40+ tankers today. A clear visualization of coordinated identity laundering at scale.
Reposted by Mark Douglas
Benin alerting through IMO:
All tankers fly the flag of Benin illegally.
Four tankers previously boarded, including BORACAY.
All tankers fly the flag of Benin illegally.
Four tankers previously boarded, including BORACAY.
November 24, 2025 at 12:31 PM
Benin alerting through IMO:
All tankers fly the flag of Benin illegally.
Four tankers previously boarded, including BORACAY.
All tankers fly the flag of Benin illegally.
Four tankers previously boarded, including BORACAY.
Reposted by Mark Douglas
French Navy Floreal-class frigate FS Vendemiaire (F734) coming into Wellington, New Zealand - November 25, 2025 SRC: FB- Royal New Zealand Navy
November 25, 2025 at 4:07 PM
French Navy Floreal-class frigate FS Vendemiaire (F734) coming into Wellington, New Zealand - November 25, 2025 SRC: FB- Royal New Zealand Navy
Reposted by Mark Douglas
BREAKING: Navy Cancels Constellation-class Frigate Program, Considering New Small Surface Combatants — USNI News
news.usni.org/2025/11/25/n...
news.usni.org/2025/11/25/n...
Navy Cancels Constellation-class Frigate Program - USNI News
The Navy is walking away from the Constellation-class frigate program to focus on new classes of warships the service can build faster, Secretary of the Navy John Phelan announced Tuesday on social me...
news.usni.org
November 25, 2025 at 7:59 PM
BREAKING: Navy Cancels Constellation-class Frigate Program, Considering New Small Surface Combatants — USNI News
news.usni.org/2025/11/25/n...
news.usni.org/2025/11/25/n...
Reposted by Mark Douglas
Illuminating the shadow fleet: Data fusion in action.
An investigation by Matt Nippert in the NZ Herald shows the complexity of the global shadow fleet. Our own @maritimekiwi.bsky.social supported this inquiry, turning vast maritime data into clear evidence.
www.nzherald.co.nz/business/com...
An investigation by Matt Nippert in the NZ Herald shows the complexity of the global shadow fleet. Our own @maritimekiwi.bsky.social supported this inquiry, turning vast maritime data into clear evidence.
www.nzherald.co.nz/business/com...
Cook Islands flag tangled in Russia’s shadow fleet scandal
SPECIAL INVESTIGATION: How shadow fleets made the Cook Islands flag inconvienent.
www.nzherald.co.nz
November 24, 2025 at 5:12 PM
Illuminating the shadow fleet: Data fusion in action.
An investigation by Matt Nippert in the NZ Herald shows the complexity of the global shadow fleet. Our own @maritimekiwi.bsky.social supported this inquiry, turning vast maritime data into clear evidence.
www.nzherald.co.nz/business/com...
An investigation by Matt Nippert in the NZ Herald shows the complexity of the global shadow fleet. Our own @maritimekiwi.bsky.social supported this inquiry, turning vast maritime data into clear evidence.
www.nzherald.co.nz/business/com...
Reposted by Mark Douglas
BLAGE to become the 80th false flagged vessel to transit the Danish Straits without consequence, since NB8 said that there would be.
I filed a FOI request to Danish authorities on how this work is coming along. After waiting almost 2 months, they are busy coming up with excuses not to let me know.
I filed a FOI request to Danish authorities on how this work is coming along. After waiting almost 2 months, they are busy coming up with excuses not to let me know.
November 23, 2025 at 12:58 PM
BLAGE to become the 80th false flagged vessel to transit the Danish Straits without consequence, since NB8 said that there would be.
I filed a FOI request to Danish authorities on how this work is coming along. After waiting almost 2 months, they are busy coming up with excuses not to let me know.
I filed a FOI request to Danish authorities on how this work is coming along. After waiting almost 2 months, they are busy coming up with excuses not to let me know.
Reposted by Mark Douglas
Mounting pressure on countries that provide flag registrations to Russia's #ShadowFleet
1/2 Cameroon is undeterred, though; its flag registry is quickly absorbing vessels fr/other registries like Gambia.
No co-incidence➖RU has multiplied diplomatic signals toward CMR since the recent re-election...
1/2 Cameroon is undeterred, though; its flag registry is quickly absorbing vessels fr/other registries like Gambia.
No co-incidence➖RU has multiplied diplomatic signals toward CMR since the recent re-election...
Oct 12 Results: Russia Recognizes Disputed Biya Victory as Western Gov’ts Maintain Cautious Silence - Cameroon News Agency
By Hans Ngala The embassy of the Russian Federation in Cameroon has “conveyed a congratulatory message to H.E. Paul BIYA, President of the Republic of Cameroon, on the occasion of his re-election to t...
cameroonnewsagency.com
November 23, 2025 at 5:12 PM
Mounting pressure on countries that provide flag registrations to Russia's #ShadowFleet
1/2 Cameroon is undeterred, though; its flag registry is quickly absorbing vessels fr/other registries like Gambia.
No co-incidence➖RU has multiplied diplomatic signals toward CMR since the recent re-election...
1/2 Cameroon is undeterred, though; its flag registry is quickly absorbing vessels fr/other registries like Gambia.
No co-incidence➖RU has multiplied diplomatic signals toward CMR since the recent re-election...
Reposted by Mark Douglas
I'm reluctant to believe the series of events described as "a US destroyer blocking" ever happened the way it is being portrayed.
Each time Seahorse made a "U-turn", the ship was only moving at 2 knots or less. It was drifting.
In any case, it is clearly on its way to Venezuela now.
Each time Seahorse made a "U-turn", the ship was only moving at 2 knots or less. It was drifting.
In any case, it is clearly on its way to Venezuela now.
November 22, 2025 at 7:32 PM
I'm reluctant to believe the series of events described as "a US destroyer blocking" ever happened the way it is being portrayed.
Each time Seahorse made a "U-turn", the ship was only moving at 2 knots or less. It was drifting.
In any case, it is clearly on its way to Venezuela now.
Each time Seahorse made a "U-turn", the ship was only moving at 2 knots or less. It was drifting.
In any case, it is clearly on its way to Venezuela now.
Interception or Drifting?
The claim of a "US Warship Blocks Russian Tanker" is a compelling headline, but I have yet to see published evidence that a US vessel was involved, while the tanker’s movements and ownership—while highly questionable—are not fully consistent with the story.
The claim of a "US Warship Blocks Russian Tanker" is a compelling headline, but I have yet to see published evidence that a US vessel was involved, while the tanker’s movements and ownership—while highly questionable—are not fully consistent with the story.
November 23, 2025 at 3:37 AM
Interception or Drifting?
The claim of a "US Warship Blocks Russian Tanker" is a compelling headline, but I have yet to see published evidence that a US vessel was involved, while the tanker’s movements and ownership—while highly questionable—are not fully consistent with the story.
The claim of a "US Warship Blocks Russian Tanker" is a compelling headline, but I have yet to see published evidence that a US vessel was involved, while the tanker’s movements and ownership—while highly questionable—are not fully consistent with the story.
Reposted by Mark Douglas
CVN-78 USS GERALD R FORD 300mi off Venezuela. A safe position, putting Caracas well within the operational radius of the carrier air wing.-SA Defensa on X
Map for reference:
Map for reference:
November 22, 2025 at 7:08 PM
CVN-78 USS GERALD R FORD 300mi off Venezuela. A safe position, putting Caracas well within the operational radius of the carrier air wing.-SA Defensa on X
Map for reference:
Map for reference:
Reposted by Mark Douglas
Sea-Based X-Band Radar (SBX-1) early-warning radar station in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. Dome deflated with radar array exposed for maintenance - November 20, 2025 SRC: FB- Kaleb Laurent
November 22, 2025 at 7:20 PM
Sea-Based X-Band Radar (SBX-1) early-warning radar station in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. Dome deflated with radar array exposed for maintenance - November 20, 2025 SRC: FB- Kaleb Laurent