Differential E-Loran gets a green light

The system has been undergoing prototype trials by the General Lighthouse Authorities in Britain since 2007 and two prototype e-Loran differential stations were established at Dover and Harwich.

Now, following trials with these prototype stations, the British Department of Transport has given approval for differential e-Loran stations to be established to provide coverage at a series of ports on the East Coast of Britain and for the two prototype stations to be established as permanent stations. These differential e-Loran stations will provide high accuracy position information to shipping in the vicinity of the port approaches as a back up for the GPS coverage.

Demands for a back up for the satellite based GPS system have come from many quarters because of the potential for the system to be subject to jamming or spoofing. GPS jammers are widely available on the Internet for as little as £30 and they are mainly used by truck drivers who want to immobilise their own GPS trackers for a short period of time. It is thought that any attempt to jam the GPS signal in busy port approaches could lead to significant traffic disruption and possible accidents so the provision of a back up system is seen as vital for security.

These differential e-Loran stations use the Loran signals that are currently available from transmitting stations using the existing Loran C system that covers most of north western European waters plus a temporary British station. With the differential Loran the position accuracy is considerably upgraded, with some observers comparing it to normal GPS accuracy.

The new areas that will have the E-Loran coverage are the Medway, the Humber, Middlesbrough, The Firth of Forth and Aberdeen. The stations are being established by American contractor UrsaNav with the first stations operational by 2014.

Stephen Hammond the Minister for Shipping commented: “The development of seven e-Loran stations follows the successful demonstration of e-Loran as a resilient PNT technology and puts the UK at the forefront of developments to improve navigational safety.”

South Korea is following these developments with considerable interest after having suffered GPS jamming in their waters from North Korea for a period of 16 days and the e-Loran looks like providing the essential back-up. Loran stations are still operating in various parts of the world and interest is growing in developing and expanding the coverage to provide a back-up for GPS and other satellite systems.