I used to have a job where I analyzed global ship tracking data (AIS and other less-open (i.e. more classified) data streams) for law enforcement and environmental conservation purposes, and learned one thing: man is AIS data a bitch.

This is especially true when you're dealing with potential bad actors who can spoof their transmissions, combined with incredibly poor vessel metadata databases and strange satellite AIS coverage issues.

If there are any data scientists out there looking for a real head-basher, start an AIS project.