Our Purpose & Mission:
Sanborn Analytics is a Massachusetts-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit maritime research institute dedicated to improving maritime safety and security worldwide. We use advanced surveillance systems, data analytics, and operational research tools to help governments, naval forces, and commercial operators detect threats, reduce risks, and make informed decisions.
Through collaboration with public and private partners, we work to maintain secure and reliable sea lanes, supporting a safe and sustainable maritime environment.
Key historical facts about Sanborn Analytics:
The organization was established as a nonprofit entity in Boston, Massachusetts, on October 3rd, 2016. It was founded in response to the naval and coastal manpower shortage worldwide, which has caused patrol and surveillance gaps in the maritime domain. The initial donations to start the organization came from the company's board of directors, each contributing $100. Sanborn Analytics' original Board of Directors was composed of decorated U.S. military veterans. Today, the board and employees come from diverse backgrounds and represent a variety of cultures and experiences from around the world.
Supporting Our Cause:
Sanborn Analytics is currently raising funds to establish faculty housing for our Maritime Threat Assessment Center (MTAC) in Massachusetts, a critical facility supporting advanced maritime research and security analysis. Your financial support will directly strengthen our mission. Donations to Sanborn Analytics are tax-deductible (please consult a tax professional). Our Employer Identification Number (EIN) is 84-2251777. To contribute, please visit our [PayPal Donation Page].
Join us in our mission to safeguard our seas and enhance global maritime security.
In addition to operating Maritime Threat Assessment Centers (MTACs), we support the following marine safety and security programs;
. Maritime Drone Surveillance & Defence (UK/VA office)
. Vessel Traffic Services
. Maritime Port Intelligence
. Marine Salvage Operations (Anti-piracy)
. Maritime Climate Change (Ocean & Temperature Monitoring)
Our Vision:
To serve as a trusted partner in maritime research, education, and security within the coastal and defense community.
Why this matters:
Maritime transportation serves as the backbone of global trade, moving over 80% of goods and materials for the United States and other major economies worldwide. Beyond routine cargo, this sector handles high-risk and high-value shipments, including hazardous chemicals, petroleum products, and strategic minerals. The industry faces persistent threats from piracy, terrorist groups, and illicit actors, making security a constant operational priority. As vessels advance in automation and technological complexity, robust tracking, surveillance, and monitoring systems are increasingly indispensable. These capabilities are critical to managing risks, preventing accidents, and ensuring the continuous flow of commerce that underpins global stability.
Your financial support and our expenses:
Your contributions are essential to the mission of Sanborn Analytics. We are committed to ensuring that every dollar raised is applied directly to operational improvements and initiatives that drive long-term self-sufficiency. To achieve this goal, the organization is actively pursuing federal, state, and international government contracts, with the objective of becoming fully financially independent by 2030. Under our three-to-five-year strategic plan, we anticipate that approximately 90% of future revenue will be derived from government contracts, while the remaining 10% will continue to come from donations.
Sanborn Analytics maintains full transparency in its financial operations. Our filings and compliance status can be reviewed through the [IRS] and the [Office of the Massachusetts Attorney General]. In addition to cash donations, we accept foreign and domestic real estate free of mortgages or liens, stocks, bonds, and option contracts without encumbrances, patents, and intellectual property generating royalties without liens, and artwork accompanied by a certified appraisal and authenticity documentation.
BASIC Q & A about our firm and how we work:
How does a Maritime Threat Assessment Center work, and what do employees do there?
A Maritime Threat Assessment Center is a building that sits near an inner harbor or port. The building is outfitted with an antenna and AIS equipment to track cargo ships and other vessels entering and leaving the port area. The station may occasionally provide navigational support and assistance to arriving and departing maritime traffic, as well as provide data analysis to key maritime stakeholders. Please see (video)
2. Employees at a Maritime Threat Assessment Center perform the following tasks;
(A) They keep logs of global ship movements in and out of ports of call.
(B)They advise on port congestion, alternate routes, and alternative ports of call around bad weather.
(C) They conduct routine maritime INTELLIGENCE and SURVEILLANCE of cargo ships terminating their AIS signals in international waters.
(D) They track cargo ships that have entered ports of prohibited trade and high-risk areas of illicit trade.
(E) They maintain the facilities and equipment of the MTAC.
(F) In the future, when ships become fully automated, we hope to collect engine and mechanics data. Our organization believes this will be possible by the end of the decade, and automated ships will be on the high seas prior to self-driving trucks becoming a real thing on American roads. Please see(VIDEO)
(G)They monitor ship-to-ship and ship-to-shore communication.
(H) A MTAC Analyst works 8-hour shifts, seven days a week, 24 hours a day.
What's the cost of operations, and what do we pay for:
(A) The cost to operate a station is between 10 and 11K minus salaries and benefits to employees.
(B) The company's expenditures include internet, insurance, rent, supplies, and computer equipment.
(C) We buy real estate to host Maritime Threat Assessment Centers.