MoD GPS jamming exercise will not affect tall ships

An MoD global positioning system (GPS) jamming exercise will not cause any problems for Tall Ships visiting the county next weekend, say OIC marine services.

However, due to possible errors and disruption up to 20 nautical miles east of Kirkwall and up to 220 nautical miles west of Orkney, mariners have been advised to navigate with caution whilst dependent on GPS navigation systems.

The exercise, announced by the MoD this week, will start on Monday, July 11, and will continue until Wednesday, July 27, with GPS jamming conducted over a maximum of three days, not including weekends, during that time.

Each jamming session will comprise of a maximum of six, 15 minute periods between 12.15pm and 13.15pm.

A spokesman for the council’s marine services said that the Tall Ships had been notified and they were not anticipating any major problems: “Ships have other methods of navigating other than GPS and it is relatively easy to navigate a ship without GPS.

“Furthermore, the jamming periods are only for 15 minutes and might not even take place while the Tall Ships are here.”

For further information visit www.orkneyharbours.com.