NavList:
A Community Devoted to the Preservation and Practice of Celestial Navigation and Other Methods of Traditional Wayfinding
LORAN-C to be shut down.
From: Jeremy C
Date: 2009 Dec 4, 11:09 EST
NavList message boards: www.fer3.com/arc
Or post by email to: NavList@fer3.com
To , email NavList+@fer3.com
From: Jeremy C
Date: 2009 Dec 4, 11:09 EST
I read the following on a maritime forum site. Looks like LORAN-C
systems run by the US will be shut down sooner than we thought.
-----------------------------
The US Coast Guard released an internal message advising of the imminent
termination of the long range aid to navigation Loran-C. Current plans call for
the termination process to commence on 4 January 2010. The process is expected
to take several months. ALCOAST 675/09
(11/25/09). Note: This will mark the end of an era that started during World
War II. The Loran system has improved greatly over the years and was on the edge
of yet another advance: to enhanced Loran (eLoran). It is unclear how other
nations, which operate their own independent Loran-C systems, will react to this
development.
Courtesy: Bryant’s Maritime Blog – 1 December 2009
Courtesy: Bryant’s Maritime Blog – 1 December 2009
------------------------------
Not that this will affect many large ships. My ship hasn't had LORAN
capabilities since the antenna broke 3 years ago and the captain was too afraid
to order a new antenna. Most merchant ships are utterly dependent on GPS
at this point, and would have a tough time remembering how to use the sextant if
it came down to that point. It will only get worse when the younger
generations take command, having never known a time without GPS.
JCA
-- NavList message boards: www.fer3.com/arc
Or post by email to: NavList@fer3.com
To , email NavList+@fer3.com
