Encounters mean two vessels (or sometimes a vessel and a buoy) have met with either of the following criteria:

Encounters are not detected when they occur within 10km (±3km) of shores, within port boundaries or on inland waterways.

This movement is consistent with the behaviour observed when two vessels meet at sea to exchange goods—fuel, fish, people or cargo, for example.

Vessel encounters are shown as a dark red line and red double arrow icon on selected vessels.