This paper offers a designed Integrated Navigation System that will permit vessels to transit safely through the Suez Canal avoiding collision and grounding in all weather environments instead of being directed to anchor, thus keeping the Canal open at all times for ship transits. The Suez Canal Integrated Navigation System (SCINS) includes Differential Global Positioning System (DGPS), Suez Canal LORAN-C system, and Vessel Traffic Management System (VTMS). The combination of DGPS and LORAN-C systems would provide real-time DGPS corrections that could be used to calibrate the Loran fix; this can be achieved by means of portable integrated DGPS/LORAN-C sets installed aboard the vessels. The addition of VTMS provides significant capability for preserving system accuracy during periods of GPS outages. Due to the interface between LORAN-C and VTMS systems, the SCINS will be able to solve the problem of targets that cannot be tracked by VTMS radars in the shadow areas behind the new bridges along the Canal. The SCINS automates position fixing in real-time, offers a designed algorithm to return the ship to the middle of the Canal and computes the cross-track error (XTE) and the ship squat. Kalman Filter design and system level performance predictions for the SCINS are briefly described. Simulation results show that the SCINS offers superior performance and better position accuracy than current integrated systems.

The associate members of the North European LORAN-C System (NELS) will, before the end of the six-nation co-operation agreement in 2004, need to take a decision whether to prolong or decommission LORAN-C operation in Europe. The Minister of Fisheries in Norway has already indicated decommissioning of the Norwegian LORAN-C stations. Such a decision raises the fundamental debate about whether we can rely on GPS as a ‘sole-means’ system, or if we need a secondary backup system, such as LORAN-C. The purpose of this article is to highlight important aspects and conflicts related to an extension of LORAN-C in Europe. The focus will therefore be towards the limitations and vulnerability of GPS vs. the potential of LORAN-C improvements. The discussion will be based on a Norwegian nautical perspective.

As new technologies contribute to the expanded functionality of Loran-C, and as concerns for limitations in GPS and its augmentations are raised, specific aspects of Loran-C have been developed and applied to ameliorate those limitations. Specifically, GPS availability is a concern, particularly in over-land applications. This paper discusses recent developments using very high-precision synchronisation of Loran-C transmissions, new data compression and Loran-C signal modulation techniques to augment GPS accuracy, availability and integrity over a very wide area at very low cost.