Aids to Navigation

Availability, accuracy, limitations

and precautions with Electronic
Navigational Systems

Unit 7: Passage Panning

 Aims of this lesson
• To identify the available Electronic Aids to
Navigation (AtoN)
• To understand the expected accuracy of
different AtoN
• To understand the limitations and precautions of
using different AtoN

Unit 7: Passage Panning

 MGN 379
Navigation: Use of Electronic Navigation Aids

Summary
This note emphasises the need for correct use of navigational equipment by
watch-keepers.
Key Points:-
• Be aware that each item of equipment is an aid to navigation.
• Be aware of the factors which affect the accuracy of position fixing systems.
• Appreciate the need to cross check position fixing information using other
methods.
• Recognise the importance of the correct use of navigational aids and
knowledge of their limitations.
• Be aware of the dangers of over-reliance on the output from, and accuracy
of, a single navigational aid.

Unit 7: Passage Panning

 What AtoNs do you have
onboard ship?
• GNSS and DGNSS
– GPS, GLONASS and GALILEO
• ECDIS
• Radar/ARPA
• eLoran
• Echo sounder
• Compass – Gyro, magnetic, GPS, optical
• Speed log – Doppler, Electromagnetic

Unit 7: Passage Panning

 Global Positioning System
• Available “world wide” 24/7
• Accurate to about 20m
• Inaccurate in higher Latitudes
• Operated by US Military
• Are able to degrade the signal
• Selects from available 24 satellites
• Works by measuring the time taken
for a signal to travel from the
satellite
• WGS84 datum
• sometimes require additional charted
correction
Unit 7: Passage Panning
 GPS Limitations & Precautions
• How many bridge systems use GPS?
• GPS system ‘close to breakdown’
– Network of satellites could begin to fail as early as 2010

• Dilution of Precision
– Geometric, Positional, Horizontal, Vertical & Time

• MGN 379 - Use of Electronic Navigation Aids

– 4.5 GNSS – related accidents
– 4.6 Datum and Chart Accuracy

• Jamming
Unit 7: Passage Panning
 GPS Jamming trials 2008
The trial was organized to investigate the effect of GPS service denial on maritime navigation, AtoN
performance, and DGPS monitoring operations. The service denial of GPS also provided an excellent
test environment for the development of the case for eLoran. It is important to note that the effect of
GPS service denial is the same whether through intentional jamming or unintentional interference.

The trial was designed to provide:

•An indication of the effect of GPS jamming on the safety of
mariners’
•An evaluation of how mariners cope with a sudden loss of
GPS as primary navigation input;
•An investigation into the performance of the GLAs DGPS
service and how it is affected by GPS jamming;
•An assessment of the performance of eLoran as a backup
to global navigation satellite systems (GNSS)
•A trial/demonstration on which to continue and expand the
case for eLoran;
•An evaluation of the effect on AIS;

Unit 7: Passage Panning

 GPS Jamming
The main conclusion is that GPS service denial has a significant impact on maritime safety:
• On shore — The marine picture presented to Vessel Traffic Services/Management (VTS) will be confused as
AIS information with erroneous positions and high-velocities conflicts with the radar information.
• AtoNs — DGPS reference stations can be jammed and the impact may results in the absence of DGPS
corrections; AIS used by an AtoN may broadcast incorrect information.
• On ships — Navigation, situational awareness, chart stabilization, and DSC emergency communications will
be lost if they are based on GPS. Some vessels have integrated bridge systems, which enable automatic
execution of a passage plan on autopilot. If this system is operating at a time when jamming occurs then,
depending on the system design, the vessel’s course and heading may change without informing the
watchkeeper, potentially leading to extremely hazardous consequences. At this point, continuation of
navigational safety is dependent on mariners’ abilities to operate effectively using alternative techniques (e.g.
radar parallel-indexing). Increased use of ECDIS will increase the attendant risks. The number of alarms that
can sound on the bridge can be distracting. Moving to other navigation techniques can cause an increase in
bridge workload.
• On people — People are conditioned to expect excellent GPS performance. As a result, when ships’ crews
fail to recognise that the GPS service is being interfered with and/or there is a loss of familiarity with
alternative methods of navigation or situational awareness.
• eLoran was unaffected by GPS jamming and demonstrated an accuracy of 8.1 m (95%), which is
comparable to stand-alone, single-frequency GPS. Consequently, eLoran can be used to detect erroneous
positions and high velocities that may be experienced during GPS service denial. Moreover, when GPS is
unavailable, eLoran can provide a PNT (position, navigation, and timing) input to all maritime systems.

Unit 7: Passage Panning

 eLoran
MGN 379 - Navigation: Use of Electronic Navigation Aids
In order to provide an accurate terrestrial backup to satellite
systems such as GPS, a more accurate Enhanced LORAN
(eLORAN) system is under development in Europe. Tests
have shown that eLORAN will provide positional accuracy
within the coverage area to the same level as GPS.

Unit 7: Passage Panning

 eLoran
• Available in Northern hemisphere 24/7 when within 1000’
of an eLoran chain. Coverage is good in North America,
Europe, and the Pacific Rim. (Northern Hemisphere)
• Accurate to about 100m near base line
• Hyperbolic navigation system
• LORAN suffers from electronic effects of weather and in
particular the ionosphere's reaction to sunrise and
sunset.
• As with any radio navigation aid Magnetic storms have
serious effects.

Unit 7: Passage Panning

 Eurofix
• Is an integrated navigation and communication
system – expanded from Loran-C.
• Eurofix navigation works primarily with GPS to
provide Differential corrections.

• Limitations
– User must be in an area where he can receive
signals coming from Loran-C transmitters

Unit 7: Passage Panning

Eurofix covergage

Unit 201: Management of Navigation

 Links to Resources
• GPS system ‘close to breakdown’
http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2009/may/19/gps-close-to-breakdown

• Dilution of Precision
http://www.kowoma.de/en/gps/errors.htm

• CrossRate Tech Launches GPS + eLoran

Marine Receiver
http://www.gpsworld.com/transportation/marine/news/crossrate-tech-launches-
gps-eloran-marine-receiver-9289

• eLoran Sparks Debate In Washington – Is It

Truly Important?
http://gcaptain.com/maritime/blog/eloran-sparks-debate-loranc-gp/

Unit 7: Passage Panning

 Speed Logs
• Electro-Magnetic Log
• Only speed through the water
• Used for sea stabilised display
• Doppler log
• Speed over the ground or speed through the water
• SoG – ground stabilised
• StW – sea stabilised
• How accurate was the log on your last
ship?
Unit 7: Passage Panning
Radar / ARPA - Relative motion
• Unstabilised. Head up
– Looks like the view out of window – pilotage
– Picture rotates as ship yaws
– Occurs with single Compass failure
• Stabilised. North up or Course up
– Requires compass heading input
– Comparison with chart
– No blurring with heads movement
– Good bearing accuracy and CPA
Unit 7: Passage Panning
 Radar / ARPA – True motion
• Ground Stabilised
– Indicates course & speed over ground
– Pilotage/Navigation
– Affected by strong tides
• Sea Stabilised
– Indicates ship motion through water;
– Immediate indication of targets change of
course

Unit 7: Passage Panning

 Echo Sounder
• Measures pulses of sound energy
transmitted and reflected
– Speed of sound in water
• Does the signal travel faster in FW?
– Comparison with chart depth
• Limitations
– Aeration & Turbulence
– Sea ice or marine growth or paint on plate

Unit 7: Passage Panning

Unit 7: Passage Panning
 Availability, Accuracy & Errors
System Availability Accuracy Errors

Celestial

GNSS

Radar

eLoran
Unit 7: Passage Panning
 Availability, Accuracy & Errors
System Availability Accuracy Errors
5 x 24h – Stars AM & PM, +/- 1 - 2 ‘ Index error (S)
Sun / Planet AM, PM & MP Less in high latitudes Chronometer (S)

Celestial Polaris Dependant on good

horizon, altitude, cloud &
Refraction (R)
Propagation (R)
weather. DR DIP (S)
24/7 US military or Russia +/- 20m or 100m 95% Ionosphere, sun spots,
Poorer in high latitudes 2D v 3D fix Cumulonimbus Weather

GNSS Number of satellites Interference

Jamming
Rx clock (S) resolved in Rx
Multipath, GDOP

Within 20’ of land +/- 0.1 Range and bearing

3cm short range definition discrimination, Gyro error,

Radar 10cm long range scanning

& rain clutter
VRM, low coast, blind
Shadow sectors, Weather
Wrong object
North hemisphere 24/7 +/- 0.2’ on base line Ionosphere
within 1000’ of chain decreasing to Weather
+/- 0.5 at 600’ (GW) and
eLoran +/- 1 to 2 1000’ (SW)
Surface effect

Unit 7: Passage Panning