U.S. Issues Renewed Mariner Warning on GPS Interference – Maritime Executive

September 24, 2020

Written by Editor

Image: Shutterstock

Blog Editor’s Note: As noted in the article, unlike previous warnings, this one is global vs specific to a region. Probably appropriate as research has found GPS disruption in virtual all phases of maritime operations around the globe.

It is also interesting that this warning does not seem to be tied to a specific incident or threat. The previous MARAD warning about GPS disruption was almost exactly a year ago, so maybe it was just time to remind everyone that this is an on-going problem…

By the way, here is a link to the advisory itself: https://www.maritime.dot.gov/msci/2020-016-various-gps-interference

 

U.S. Issues Renewed Mariner Warning on GPS Interference

The United States issued a renewed warning to mariners of multiple instances of significant GPS interference. According to the U.S. Maritime Advisory, this interference is resulting in lost or inaccurate GPS signals affecting bridge navigation, GPS-based timing, and communications equipment. Satellite communications equipment they warn may also be impacted.

This renewed warning is non-specific to an area of the globe, but it notes over the last year, areas from which multiple instances have been reported include the eastern and central Mediterranean Sea, the Persian Gulf, and multiple Chinese ports.

READ MORE

What Can YOU Do? How Can YOU Help?

PNT is the quiet backbone of everything but too many leaders still don’t see the risk.

But you do. You understand the systems, the dependencies, the failure chains. That insight is rare — and it’s exactly what your country needs right now. Contact your government leaders and industry decision-makers and tell them resilient PNT isn’t a feature — it’s the foundation everything else depends on.

Start the Conversation

Use our Resilient PNT Key Talking Points to make the case.

U.S. Advocates

Find your representatives at Congress.gov, then use our email template to reach them in minutes.

When you get a response, let us know. Every conversation strengthens the mission.

More PNT News

“We can track Starlink users…” – Fast Company

“We can track Starlink users…” – Fast Company

Image: Shutterstock What's new: A report that multiple companies are offering governments the ability to geolocate Starlink terminals.  Why it's important: Security concerns - an adversary could target, kidnap, kill, etc. users. Privacy concerns - user location data...

Honeybees teach drones how to navigate without GPS – Cybernews

Honeybees teach drones how to navigate without GPS – Cybernews

Image: Shutterstock What's new: An interesting form of autonomous navigation based on nature. Why it's important: Autonomous systems have an important place in an overall PNT architecture. For some applications they are the best/only method. This system uses just 42...

PNT cyber guidance update – NIST wants your input

PNT cyber guidance update – NIST wants your input

Image: RNT Foundation What's new: Draft updated PNT cyber guidance from NIST. They are seeking public comment and input. Why it's important: PNT and cyber are well intertwined. PNT is an essential tech infrastructure so protecting it from malicious cyber effects is...

GPS Is Not Guaranteed: Impact on ports (Webinar 21 May)

GPS Is Not Guaranteed: Impact on ports (Webinar 21 May)

Image: Shutterstock What's new: A webinar featuring our colleague Matt Shirley. Matt is a professional port pilot and has some interesting insights on maritime reliance on GPS/GNSS, how things could go wrong without resilient PNT, and how things could go better with...

Get PNT News in Your Inbox