Seatrade Maritime: Qatar lifts some navigation restrictions as GPS fault continues

Qatar’s Ministry of Transport announced an easing of restrictions on maritime navigation put in place on October 4, but warned that a technical fault affecting the accuracy of GPS navigation remained unresolved.

The Ministry took the unprecedented action on Saturday to suspend all maritime navigation activities citing safety concerns due to potential inaccuracies in navigation equipment. 

Maritime security company Vanguard said: “AIS data between 4-6 October indicates limited vessel activity near Doha and Ras Laffan, suggesting partial enforcement or exemptions, particularly for liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports.”

QatarEnergy had also imposed nighttime navigation restrictions at export terminals between 1800 hrs and 0500 hrs local time, said Vanguard.

The latest update from the Ministry of Transport lifts restrictions on maritime navigation during daylight hours, “but continue to be banned during evening hours for non-conventional vessels (pleasure crafts, tourism, fishing, and the like),” the Ministry said in a statement.

The GPS issues in Qatar have been attributed to a technical fault, but follow ongoing reports of electronic interference in the Middle East made to UKMTO, including in late September and early October. UKMTO said reports of electronic interference remained consistent in the Red Sea, particularly around Port Sudan. “New, low-levels of concentration have been observed around Jizan for the first time. In the Arabian Gulf, concentrations also remain consistent relative to last week’s reporting, but a new, higher concentration has emerged around Port of Assaluyeh, Iran,” UKMTO’s weekly summary report said.