Vessel monitoring system (VMS) data request: EIR release

Information requested

VMS data for vessels within the specified coordinates during the period from 25th July 2025 09:00 to 27th July 2025 15:00:

P1: 58.90° N, 002.85° W
P2: 58.90° N, 002.55° W
P3: 58.70° N, 002.85° W
P4: 58.70° N, 002.55° W

Please include the following details in the data: Date and time of report, Unique vessel identification, Latitude, Longitude, Course and Speed. I would prefer to receive this information in an Excel workbook format.

Response

While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance we are unable to provide the information you have requested because an exception under regulation 11(2) (personal data relating to a third party) of the EIRs applies to that information. The reason why that exception applies is that only a single vessel submitted VMS positions in the specified area at the requested time so its data could be compared to other open-source data and lead to individuals being identified. Therefore, disclosing the data could contravene the data protection principles in Article 5(1) of the General Data Protection Regulation and in section 34(1) of the Data Protection Act 2018.

This exception is not subject to the ‘public interest test’, so we are not required to consider if the public interest in disclosing the information outweighs the public interest in applying the exception.

Additional information provided out with the EIRs

Under regulation 9 of the EIRs (our duty to provide advice and assistance) we would like to advise you that only fishing vessels which exceed 12 metres in length are required to report their positions to the VMS system used by the Scottish Government. This means there may be under 12m fishing vessels and non-fishing vessels of any length using the area that are not required to report their positions to the system e.g. commercial traffic like cargo vessels, military etc, or pleasure craft e.g. yachts etc.

About FOI

The Scottish Government is committed to publishing all information released in response to Freedom of Information requests. View all FOI responses at https://www.gov.scot/foi-responses.