Finland, 13 countries see safety risks in navigation by GNSS interference

Finland and 13 other European countries on Monday published a letter to the International Maritime Community on the safety and security risks caused by Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) interference, said the Ministry of Transport and Communications in a press release.

The joint letter pointed out the risks to maritime safety and security caused by interference with satellite navigation systems interference and highlighted the obligations of vessels and flag states under international treaties.

Risks to maritime safety increase further during winter, when ice conditions are challenging, said the letter signed by coastal states of the Baltic Sea and the North Sea.

The signatories of the letter included Finland, Belgium, Denmark, Estonia, France, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Sweden, the United Kingdom as well as Iceland.

On behalf of Finland, the letter was signed by Minister of Transport and Communications Lulu Ranne.

“Our particular concern relates to vessels and crew that do not have the capabilities for winter navigation and are vulnerable to GNSS interference. We want to ensure that all countries are committed to international conventions and are adequately prepared for incidents when operating in the Baltic Sea region,” said Ranne.

The letter urged the international maritime community and national authorities to recognize GNSS interference and Automatic Identification System (AIS) manipulation as threats to maritime safety and security, to ensure vessels have adequate capabilities and properly trained crew as required by international conventions to operate safely during navigation system outages and to cooperate on the development of alternative terrestrial radio navigation systems which may be used in place of GNSS in the event of disruption, loss of signal or interference or other system failures.