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e-Navigation and the Case for eLoran

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  26 June 2008

Paul Williams ,
Sally Basker  and
Nick Ward
Paul Williams*
Affiliation:
(General Lighthouse AuthoritiesUnited Kingdom and Ireland)
Sally Basker
Affiliation:
(General Lighthouse AuthoritiesUnited Kingdom and Ireland)
Nick Ward
Affiliation:
(General Lighthouse AuthoritiesUnited Kingdom and Ireland)
*
(Email: Paul.Williams@thls.org)
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Abstract

International discussions on the concept of e-navigation have identified a robust position-fixing system as one of the essential components. Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) are known to have vulnerabilities and onboard alternatives such as inertial systems have limitations. This paper considers the case for an enhanced version of the terrestrial radio-navigation system Loran to provide an alternative with performance comparable to GNSS. The paper reviews recent studies of inertial navigation systems and concludes that they do not present a fully capable backup to GNSS at present. Trials of enhanced Loran carried out in the UK by the General Lighthouse Authorities have shown that eLoran does have the potential to provide equivalent performance to GNSS over long periods and is a fully complementary system. The steps needed to provide eLoran on at least a regional basis, covering critical waterways, are considered. The international process for the specification and standardisation of eLoran is already underway and some projections are made about the timescale for full implementation, in the context of the introduction of e-Navigation. A version of this paper was first presented at NAV 07 held in Church House, London from 30th October – 1st November 2007.

Keywords

eLorane-NavigationGNSSINS
Type
Research Article
Information
The Journal of Navigation , Volume 61 , Issue 3 , July 2008 , pp. 473 - 484
Copyright
Copyright © The Royal Institute of Navigation 2008

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References

REFERENCES

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