Tag: GPS

The US Coast Guard (USCG) switched off the last Differential Global Positioning System (DGPS) signals after more than 25 years of service on June 30, due to the GPS that provides sufficient positional accuracy.

After AMSA revealed intentions to shut down its radio beacon differential global positioning system (DGPS) service, it has now noted that this will not impact the accuracy of satellite positioning or safe navigation.

US President Donald Trump signed an executive order directing US agencies to test whether critical infrastructure systems are vulnerable in case of disruption or manipulation of satellite-based global positioning system services (GPS).

Knowing exactly where you’re sailing and where to sail next is the most important part of a vessel’s navigation which can be accomplished by the use of GPS. Yet, what happens when your GPS gets spoofed? GPS spoofing, often leading to GPS outages, causes major disruptions to the shipping industry impacting safe navigation, leading to paralyzed shipping lanes, collisions and untraceable attacks.

As AMSA reported in the past, due to the increased accuracy of GPS and introduction of other global positioning constellations, like GLONASS, GALILEO and Beidou, its Differential Global Positioning System (DGPS) service is no longer needed. As a result, AMSA will discontinue DGPS system from the following summer, specifically on 1st July 2020.

Knowing exactly where we are at each time is a key component of safe navigation and the use of GPS and ECDIS provide this capability nowadays, but the continuing trend to rely solely on this means of navigation rather than to cross-check with other independent and reliable navigation techniques introduces a significant risk, CHIRP notes.

GPS spoofing is a common incident nowadays, with the People's Republic of China reporting that in 2019 there was a number of GPS spoofing incidents in and around coastal areas and ports. In light of the dangers and challenges of GPS spoofing, the Club alerts all stakeholders to take precautions if experiencing jamming, or spoofing.

AMSA informed that on 1 July 2020 it will discontinue its Differential Global Positioning System (DGPS) service. The increased accuracy of GPS and introduction of other global positioning constellations, such as GLONASS, GALILEO and Beidou, mean that AMSA’s DGPS service is no longer needed.

Today, over 87% of merchant vessels are carrying GNSS receivers, usually feeding into an ECDIS for establishing position, speed and heading. If GNSS-based position information is unavailable, it leads to other systems such as AIS becoming unavailable.

The US Maritime Administration alerted of GPS interference that has been reported from vessels operating in the Eastern and Central Mediterranean Sea, and Suez Canal resulting to lost GPS signals that seriously affect the vessel's navigation and operations.