Possibilities of more accurate navigation with the utilization of new solutions in radar technology

Many radio-navigation systems dating from the seventies and eighties of the last century were replaced by a single Global Positioning System (GPS) a dozen or so years ago. However, for several years the opinion that the GPS monopoly is becoming dangerous has been expressed increasingly often in navigational literature. Even when supplemented with other systems from this group, such as Global Navigational Satellite Systems (GNSS), it cannot be treated as the source of reliable and universally accessible navigational information. This results from the similar sensibility of all GNSS systems to the same disturbances as a consequence of using a similar band of radiofrequencies and a similarly low powered signal. There is a growing recognition in the maritime world that GNSS will not provide the resilience required because of these common vulnerabilities. The World Wide Radio Navigation System should be seen as a combination of systems, which can cooperate and work effectively even when GNSS does not work. Lately different authors commonly point-out the potential advantages of a modified Loran (e-Loran), however it still remains only a potential option – particularly in the southern hemisphere, where this system has never existed. Meanwhile as the general threat of the disturbance of GNSS systems increases, the matter of initiating alternative possibilities becomes more urgent. A proposal which combines lower financial outlays with adjustments to the existing techniques and the law in force is desirable. In this context radar seems to be the attractive option, however for utilization as an alternative to GNSS it should reach considerably higher technical performances. In the paper the general limitations in the use of existing radar as a means of ships’ positioning are presented, and information published about the investigation into the methods for overcoming these limitations is discussed. The accessible information appears to prove that a greater accuracy of position can be achieved with modified radar in the future, especially if the suitable navigational infrastructure is present on shore. However, the level of accuracy of this method does not seem to compare favorably with GNSS.