The Royal Institute of Navigation (RIN) has released a report detailing the growing impact of GNSS interference in the maritime sector.
The study surveyed over 100 sector experts and 300 vessel Captains, supported by interviews with operational and supply chain personnel who regularly encounter disrupted satellite signals.
GNSS interference occurs when satellite-based positioning signals are disrupted, either through jamming, which blocks signals entirely, or spoofing, which feeds false data to receivers, causing vessels to report inaccurate positions.
In 2025, at least two collisions and groundings linked to GNSS interference were reported in regions including the Baltic, the Straits of Hormuz, and the Red Sea.
The report highlights how modern digital vessels are exposed daily to jamming and spoofing, creating cybersecurity vulnerabilities and urgent maritime safety risks.
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Survey data shows critically important systems such as the Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS) and other SOLAS-mandated equipment are highly dependent on GNSS signals.
Many onboard electronics, including RADAR, radios, NAVTEX, speed logs, ship clocks, and satellite communications, are unnecessarily tied to GNSS, creating avoidable points of failure.
Dr Ramsey Faragher, Director of the RIN, said: “The report has highlighted serious safety concerns rooted in cybersecurity vulnerabilities, not just navigation disruptions. Operating in regions of known GNSS interference carries real safety-of-life and liability implications.”
Maritime Captain Ivana-Maria Carrionni-Burnett, Chair of RIN’s Maritime Navigation Group, added: “GNSS interference cannot be overcome by traditional navigation alone. Modern ships embed GNSS into critical systems, including safety equipment, creating a clear risk to people, property, and the environment.”
Retired Captain James Taylor OBE, fellow of the RIN, noted: “Despite resistance measures, jamming and spoofing threats are real and growing. These risks extend beyond navigation to every system that relies on satellite-based timing, affecting national infrastructure as well as shipping.”
For more information:
Royal Institute of Navigation – https://rin.org.uk/
