U.S. Maritime Advisory 2018-014 informs of a continued GPS interference by vessels and aircraft operating in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea. This kind of interference is causing the alternation of GPS signals and in general affects the navigation and communication of vessels.
U.S. Maritime Advisory 2018-014 focuses on the continuous GPS interference that is reported by vessels and aircraft. This interference is mostly reported near Port Said, Egypt, the Suez Canal, and near Cyprus.
Similar incidents were reported in October 2018 near Jeddah Port in Saudi Arabia. As a result, GPS interference is causing the loss or the alternation of GPS signals affecting bridge navigation, GPS-based timing and communications equipment.
Moreover, U.S. Maritime Advisory 2018-014 advises seafarers to be extra careful when transiting these areas. Helpful information can be found in the US’s Coast Guard Navigation Center and NATO’s Shipping Center websites that focus on the matter of effective navigation practices for vessels experiencing GPS interference.
The information concerns safe navigation practices when experiencing GPS disruption, provides useful details on reporting possible GPS disruption, and generates further discussions within the maritime community about other disruption mitigation practices and procedures.
The guidance also calls seafarers to take notes of helpful information, on GPS interference, such as the location, date and time, duration of the incident and also provide either photographs or screenshots of equipment failures during the interference aiming to further analysis.
