Skip to content
Contact us
  • There are no suggestions because the search field is empty.

Screen Aircraft and Vessels

This guide explains how to screen aircraft and vessels against sanctions lists using sanctions.io. It covers the key identifiers to use and where to enter them, so you get the most out of every search.

Every search requires two settings: a data_source (which watchlists to screen against) and a min_score (the confidence threshold for results).

Applies to: Screening Portal • Monitoring Portal • API

Topics Covered

→ Screening an Aircraft

→ Screening a Vessel

 

Screening an Aircraft

The tail number is the primary identifier to use for sanctions screening. Sanctioned aircraft are predominantly listed on watchlists by tail number, much as vessels are listed by IMO number. Tail numbers generally appear in both the name and identifier fields of sanctions records. You can screen using the name field and reserve the identifier field for other IDs.

Key Data Points to Screen

  • Aircraft Registration (Tail Number) - the primary identifier for screening. Enter this in the name field.

  • Manufacturer Serial Number (MSN) - a permanent identifier that never changes, regardless of ownership or registration. A strong identifier for due diligence; always use it for screening when available.

Scenario A - Tail number only

If the tail number is the only information you have, add it to the name field.

Field Value
Entity Type Aircraft
Name XX-BCA

Scenario B - Tail number plus additional identifiers

If you have the tail number along with a supporting identifier - such as the serial number, aircraft model, or operator - put the tail number in the name field and the additional identifier in the identifier field.

Field Value
Entity Type Aircraft
Name XX-BCA
Identifier 2837C91 (serial number), B777-200XX (aircraft model), or Belca Air (operator)

This allows the system to cross-reference both fields against sanctions records, yielding the most complete results.

Watch Out for False Positives with Non-Unique Identifiers
Be cautious when using an aircraft model or operator name in the identifier field. These values are not unique - many aircraft share the same model or operator - and can generate false positive alerts.

How the Identifier search works
The system performs a separate, parallel match on the identifier field, independent of the name-matching scoring logic. If the identifier alone matches a sanctions record, the system will return an alert, regardless of whether the name field matches. A common model or operator in the identifier field can therefore trigger alerts for aircraft that are not actually sanctioned.

Best practice: Use unique identifiers in the identifier field, preferably the MSN.

 

Screening a Vessel

For vessels, the IMO number must be entered in the identifier field; not the name field.

IMO numbers are treated as formal identifiers in sanctions records and are indexed exclusively in identifier-related fields, not in name fields.

Field Value
Entity Type Vessel
Identifier IMO number (e.g. IMO 1234567)
Name Vessel name (optional - can be left blank if unavailable)

Note: Entering the IMO number in the name field or the vessel name in the identifier field will produce inaccurate results.

 

We're here to help!

If you have any questions or require further assistance, please don't hesitate to reach out to our support team.