Importance of positioning to MASS: The effect of jamming and spoofing on autonomous vessel.

Abstract

In recent years autonomous vessels have been strongly developed. Test voyages have been made in Finland and in Norway, and first fully autonomous voyage across Atlantic Ocean has been made by ProMare. As recent development in technology allows vessels systems to be integrated and networked for more efficient operation, the threats emerging from this integration are linked to Global Navigation Satellite Service based position, navigation and timing services. Global Navigation Satellite Service’s position, navigation and timing is critical for safe operation of a vessel with crew onboard and even more critical when navigator is removed from the vessel, and it is sent to navigate autonomously. One major issue which is necessary to be addressed before autonomous vessels can sail safely is disturbance of satellite positioning. Disturbance, both unintentional and intentional, causes positioning service denial situations as a worst-case scenario. The aim of this study is to try to establish the importance of positioning services on an autonomous maritime surface ship. Different positioning satellite services and various enhancement services, such as Satellite Based Augmentation System and differential enhancement, are briefly described. This thesis is based on guidelines for autonomous vessels from officials and classification societies, on research on satellite positioning distraction and on analysis of distractions effect on vessels.