Traditional navigation must not be forgotten, suggests UK Club

Use of GPS as a means of position-fixing is now commonplace on vessels of all descriptions and has made a significant contribution to the safety and accuracy of marine navigation. However, the UK P&I Club has warned that over-reliance on a single form of position-fixing can become a danger in itself. Continuing reports of alleged jamming of GPS signals, as well as the potential for other sources of signal interference, is of widespread concern to governments and to the shipping industry as a whole. This can cause particular problems for vessels which have come to rely exclusively on GPS for position-fixing, and highlights the importance of vessels using the full range of navigational equipment available to them, as required by SOLAS and STCW regulations.