Nearly 1,000 Gulf Ships Experience GPS Jamming Amid Iran Conflict

Ships navigating the Gulf, particularly near the Strait of Hormuz, are experiencing significant GPS and signal jamming, causing their tracking data to display false locations, such as the Front Tyne oil tanker appearing in Russia while actually sailing between Iran and the UAE. This disruption, affecting nearly 1,000 ships since the start of the Israel-Iran conflict, increases the risk of maritime accidents in this already volatile region, as accurate geolocation is critical for safe navigation. A recent collision south of the Strait involving the Front Eagle, a sister ship to the Front Tyne, resulted in fires on both vessels, underscoring the heightened dangers. The jamming interferes with the Automatic Identification System (AIS), which ships use to transmit location, speed, and other navigational data, impairing crews who rely on digital systems and leaving them to navigate with limited means. Experts distinguish between spoofing, where ship crews deliberately falsify signals, and jamming, where third parties disrupt transmissions, with the latter currently prevalent in the Gulf. Authorities and shipping analysts warn that the increased signal interference raises the likelihood of accidents amid the region's tensions.