The Copernicus Maritime Surveillance (CMS) Service provides Earth Observation products (satellite images and value adding products) to support a better understanding and improved monitoring of activities at sea, within a wide range of operational functions such as maritime safety and security, fisheries control, customs, law enforcement, marine environment pollution monitoring, and others. Implemented by EMSA, it is a Security Service of the EU’s Copernicus Programme.

Recognising that human activity at sea is intrinsically dynamic, the Copernicus Maritime Surveillance Service aims to provide timely, relevant, and targeted satellite-based information to member states and EU bodies. Data from earth observation satellites is combined with a wide range of other data, both from EMSA systems as well as from external sources. This includes vessel identification and position information, behaviour patterns, and intelligence from users. The fusion of data provides a more complete overview of activities at sea, enabling a more in-depth analysis than any one data source alone. By offering increased access to earth observation data, Copernicus reinforces and enhances existing EMSA services and opens the possibility of setting up new services too.

The CMS service provides support to interested Member State administrations and European bodies exercising functions in the maritime domain. The functions currently delivered by the CMS service include:
■ fisheries control,
■ maritime safety,
■ maritime security,
■ customs,
■ law enforcement,
■ marine pollution monitoring, and
■ international cooperation.

Stakeholder Forum: Copernicus Maritime Surveillance (CMS) User Group.

EFCA use CMS to acquire satellite imagery in relation to fisheries control activities.

Maritime Analytical Report - ad hoc product dedicated to assessing a specific risk (or its components), forecasting and anticipating developments, and when relevant produces recommendations.
The purpose of the product is to contribute to establishing a comprehensive and up to date situational picture, as well as to provide actionable intelligence regarding a risk that may affect the management of EU external maritime borders. The report may also involve comparative analysis with the purpose of identifying similarities and differences between cases of vessels used in illicit activities and building a target profile to assist maritime surveillance, operational planning and deployment decisions and/or investigative support activities

The analysts access and use any relevant source / type of information (e.g. Frontex/MS, IMINT, OSINT, maritime analytical tools, EMSA and EFCA via JORA).

Maritime Warning: MIC-RAN produces short analytical reports that provide to internal/external customers an early warning on a situation in the maritime environment that have or may have potential security implications for policy and/or practice. This is a standard reporting practice when significant maritime events or issues occur.

The analysts access and use any relevant source / type of information (e.g. Frontex/MS, IMINT, OSINT, maritime analytical tools, EMSA and EFCA via JORA).

This service provides a socio-economic baseline and initial analysis of a specific area, activity and/or an organized criminal group associated with irregular migration or cross-border crime activities.

The service was made possible by the SatCen-Frontex SLA.

This service consists in detection of locations and activities of interest over key migratory or cross-border crime areas, taking into consideration identified indicators and patterns.

The service was made possible by the SatCen-Frontex SLA.

The purpose of the service is to provide surveillance information about specific large areas on a regular, reliable and cost-efficient basis. 

The service was made possible by the SatCen-Frontex SLA.

The Multipurpose Aerial Surveillance (MAS) service allows for the real-time monitoring of the pre-frontier areas of interest. The data are collected by means of sensors mounted on aerial platforms and streamed in real-time to the European Surveillance Team in Frontex HQ and the requestor.

The primary objective of MAS is to enrich the situational picture through real-time surveillance of the external borders of the European Union. More specifically, MAS contributes to:
- Enhanced monitoring of designated pre-frontier areas.
- Implementation of Coast Guard functions.
- Improved situational awareness acting as an early warning-mechanism.
- Enhanced inter-agency and MS cooperation.

MAS supports EFCA’s JDP by streaming video of AOIs to EFCA’s Operational room.

It is available on a 24/7 basis through the Joint Operations Reporting Application (JORA).

The service provides satellite imagery analysis on specific pre-frontier areas identified through risk analysis to support the operational assessment of illegal migration and cross border crime-related activities. 

Services and tools provided under the SatCen-Frontex SLA contribute to this service.

The service provides satellite imagery analysis on specific external coastal borders identified through risk analysis to support the operational assessment of illegal migration and cross-border crime-related activities.

The service was made possible by the SatCen-Frontex SLA.