There are growing fears that there could be a major disaster in the Channel, the world’s busiest maritime thoroughfare, because ships are effectively sailing blind.
A recent conference was warned that a serious accident could take place within a decade unless action was taken.
The problem is being caused by the increasing use of GPS jammers by an array of criminals who use the devices to stop stolen cars and lorries being tracked by their legitimate owners.
Shipping is under threat from powerful jammers being used near Channel ports and also when stolen vehicles are smuggled onto ferries.
The General Lighthouse Authority, the Government agency responsible for ensuring maritime safety, is encouraging shipping companies to fit devices which enable alternative frequencies to be used for navigation.
Seven transmitters for the eLoran system will be installed along the coast including on the Thames and Humber Estuaries as well as near Dover.
P&O Ferries have already installed an eLoran receiver on its new ‘Spirit of Britain’ vessel and the General Lighthouse Authority are now encouraging others to do the same.
“Accurate real-time positional information is essential for the safe navigation of ships with modern electronic charts,” said Captain Simon Richardson, Head of Safety Management at P&O Ferries says
“Satellite navigation systems are vulnerable to degradation of signal strength and our ships have also experienced occasional loss of signal.”
According to the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, the Channel is used by between 400 and 500 vessels a day, including ferries, oil tankers and cargo ships.
Although official figures show that there is less than one collision in the Channel a year, the consequences of a maritime accident are potentially disastrous not only for shipping but the coast environment in England and France.
Stricts rules are in place, similar to a motorway, with vessels “driving on the left” and traffic being monitored around the clock.
Last month Marc Guillemot, the skipper of the French racing yacht Safran, was ordered to pay £13,500 in fines and costs by Southampton magistrates for travelling the wrong way up the Channel.