How GPS Spoofing is Creating Chaos in the Middle East as Iran Tightens Grip on Strait of Hormuz

Charlie Brown, senior advisor to United Against Nuclear Iran (UANI) and a former US Navy officer, said the enhanced risks to ships caused by interference would figure into risk assessments for the owners of commercial ships, operators and insurers. “The result to shipping, which depends on [GPS] for routine operations, causes extra confusion and hampers safe navigation. It’s not impossible for shipping to navigate without GPS... The men and women on the ship can still navigate. It’s just harder and they need to be more aware of what they’re doing,” he told The Independent. Mr Brown explained that there have been efforts in recent years to ensure that mariners are not overly reliant on their GPS navigation systems and are still using multiple sources and cross-checking data for when automatic systems fail. “It is serious. It adds complexity. It adds risk. And it adds inconvenience both to the people on the ships, but also the people ashore trying to understand what’s going on at sea.” “Both sides are doing it for offensive reasons, and both sides are doing it for defensive reasons,” he added.