Rashi Mehta
Ukraine Seaport Authority warns ships of faulty GPS in Black Sea: Ukraine’s seaports authority has cautioned shipowners against relying on a key navigation tool, citing increasing disruptions to satellite communication systems in the Black Sea.
Ukraine, a major agricultural exporter, relies heavily on satellite navigation for ships to plot courses and broadcast locations. Although radar, maps, or visual observations are alternatives, satellite signals are crucial for insurers, governments, and commodity traders to monitor the flow of goods.
Ukraine Sea ports authority’s letter to ship owners
To prevent accidents, masters of vessels sailing to Greater Odesa “should be informed about the high probability of losing satellite navigation and spoofing,” a branch of the authority wrote in a letter to shipowners sent last week.
Although the letter did not specify the source of the disruption, it is noted that Russia has been targeting various European communication systems since its invasion of Ukraine.
Analysts suggest that in the Black Sea, these disruptions are mainly part of Russia’s defense against Ukrainian drone attacks, but they may also affect ships transporting commodities.
The warning highlights the increasing impact of signal disruptions on civilian and commercial transport. Spoofing can feed tracking systems false information about a ship’s location, complicating efforts to determine the true destination of cargos.
Is Russia behind the failed navigation of the Black Sea?
It’s been a long time since Russian troops invaded Ukraine and started a war. The war has been going on still, as both countries fight for their own ideologies. While the letter did not identify the source of the disruption, the fingers are all pointed at Russia.
Russia has been attempting to obstruct various European communication systems since its invasion of Ukraine. Analysts believe that in the Black Sea, this disruption is mainly part of Russia’s defense strategy against Ukrainian drone attacks, though it may also affect ships transporting commodities.
Ukraine’s seaports authority and Russia’s defense ministry didn’t immediately respond to requests for comment. Moscow’s jamming of GPS signals has forced airline pilots in the Baltic and Finland to use alternative navigation. The disruption affects all ships in the area, not just individual ones.
Although exports haven’t been impacted yet, it complicates ship operations and tracking. Kpler analyst Ishan Bhanu estimates that around 40 ships in the Black Sea are broadcasting incorrect AIS locations, with about a third of coal-carrying ships showing inaccurate positions.
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