Navios fantasmas na Amazônia Azul: controle e mitigação

Abstract

The investigation into the oil spill that hit the northeast coast of Brazil in 2019 was the starting point of this monograph. The possibility that the crime was committed by a dark ship raises the question about the scale of the threat that these ships pose to Brazilian heritage at sea. The objective of the monograph is to list the possible losses that dark ships bring to the Amazônia Azul (Blue Amazon) and to point out some instruments that can reduce the possibility of concealment and, thus, mitigate the illegal acts performed by these ships. The methodology used was exploratory field, bibliographic and documentary research. The theme is current and relevant to the trinomial “Defense, Security and Development” as it points to the need to improve the monitoring of the Brazilian maritime space. The preservation of this heritage and the continuity of the economic activities that develop therein, guarantees its exploitation even for future generations. The work begins with a brief passage through the concepts, definitions and delimitation of maritime spaces and then addresses the importance of the Sea Economy in Brazil. Some natural wealth and economic activities are shown in order to highlight the value and importance of the Amazônia Azul. The threat posed by dark ships is present in all seas and some are already occurring in Brazilian waters. Illegal fishing, marine pollution and transnational crimes are examples of these threats. Having formed the list of assets and possible threats, highlighting the need for monitoring the maritime space, some resources are now exposed that can compose a technological solution to mitigate the action of dark ships. Radar Station, Remotely Piloted Aircraft and satellite are examples that options that can be realized, according to the peculiarity of each region, in the short, medium and long term. The strategic project of the Brazilian Navy called the Sistema de Gerenciamento da Amazônia Azul - SisGAAz (Blue Amazon Management System), partially operational, reveals itself as a basis for the construction of the technological monitoring solution, allowing increments in a modular way. The conclusion indicates the need for actions to increase the monitoring of the Amazônia Azul. Considering that the threats are already present and tend to grow and that the operation of any new technological resource requires time, it is recommended to prioritize investments in this sector.