GPS disturbances in the Baltic Sea affect ship radar
Stockholm – The Swedish Maritime Administration has previously warned that GPS disturbances in the Baltic Sea can pose a danger to recreational boats.
Now the authority has noted that the ships’ radar is also affected, reports the Swedish newspaper Expressen.
“To my knowledge, we have not had any observations of radar disturbances before,” says Sebastian Wigmo, spokesperson for the Maritime Administration, to the newspaper.
More advanced methods are required to disrupt radar than to disrupt GPS systems. The Maritime Administration does not speculate on what could be behind the radar disturbance but states that it could not have occurred naturally.
“However, we cannot say that it is intentional. Theoretically, it could be an unintentional mistake affecting the radar,” says Sebastian Wigmo.
A number of EU countries are demanding that the EU Commission take action to try to strengthen GPS systems, which also affect air traffic. Disturbances of GPS are reported to have increased in intensity during the spring.
(July 4)
