Shipowners confront GNSS disruption at sea

Electronic interference in the Arabian Gulf is forcing shipowners and vessel managers to rethink how they maintain navigational control. As satellite signals become unreliable in conflict zones, operators are looking for independent digital positioning systems to protect crews, vessels and compliance records.

For shipowners operating near conflict zones, the loss of reliable satellite positioning is a real risk. In the Arabian Gulf, repeated incidents of GNSS and AIS disruption have turned electronic interference into a daily operational concern for bridge teams and fleet managers.

When satellite signals cannot be trusted, the priority shifts immediately to maintaining navigational control of the vessel.

“When GNSS and AIS signals become unreliable in a high-tension region, the immediate priority is to retain safe navigational control of the vessel,” write Steffen Grefsgård, CEO of SGM Technology, and Rob Gillette, Assured PNT Director at NAL Technologies.

Recent interference events have coincided with military activity in the region and warnings to commercial shipping to expect jamming or spoofing. In some cases vessels have appeared on tracking systems far from their actual positions, including inland locations. Such distortions can complicate pilotage, disrupt port coordination and expose shipowners to compliance and insurance risk.

Modern vessels rely heavily on satellite derived Positioning, Navigation and Timing data. Systems such as ECDIS, AIS, GMDSS and radar overlays depend on this reference. When the signal is compromised, navigation accuracy deteriorates and situational awareness degrades.

As a result, ship managers are beginning to consider independent positioning capability as a form of operational resilience.

An example is the PntGuard system developed through a collaboration between Tschudi Shipping Company, NAL Research Corporation and SGM Technology. The platform uses a separate satellite signal and dedicated bridge display to provide verified vessel coordinates even when GNSS signals are jammed or spoofed.

For operators navigating contested waters, the objective is straightforward. Maintain a trusted positional reference, protect the crew and ensure the vessel’s movements remain defensible in an increasingly complex digital operating environment.

SOURCE : thedigitalship