The Finnish Coast Guard has reported that Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) and Global Positioning System (GPS) signals have been experiencing periodic failures in the Baltic Sea region since April this year. Tankers have also been observed falsifying their location data in recent weeks.
This confusion caused ships to get lost or lose their course at sea. Finnish authorities had to warn ships to stay away from islands and shallow waters.
Signal interference in the Baltic Sea
Finland's Interior Minister Lulu Lan said last week that she believed Russia was behind the chaos. However, Russia has so far denied interfering with communications and satellite networks.
The Coast Guard also said the disruption caused a failure of the vessel's Automatic Identification System (AIS), which enables electronic navigation.
See also: Russia steps up attacks on Ukrainian ships. Putin took a risk
Pekka Nittila from the Gulf of Finland Coast Guard told Reuters: “In recent weeks, (AIS) equipment has been deliberately disabled, giving online positioning systems false location information, resulting in inaccurate ship positions. We also confirmed that it was displayed accurately.” .
Niityla added that a new phenomenon is that one's location data is being tampered with. It was detected on 10 ships visiting a Russian port near St. Petersburg.
“In our opinion, this has to do with avoiding sanctions and their consequences,” he said.
The Baltic Sea's “Shadow Fleet”
Western countries have imposed price caps on Russian crude oil shipped by sea to reduce Russia's sales revenue.
“If countries buying Russian oil don’t want it to be known that the oil is purchased from Russia, sellers can lie about their location to give the impression that the ships are not visiting Russia. “We can do that,” Nittila added.
The coast guard also believes Russia is jamming signals to protect oil ports at the eastern end of the Gulf of Finland from Ukrainian air force and drone attacks.
See also: Finland sends a “gift” to China. turned out to be too expensive
Another problem is Russia's aging tankers, known as the “shadow fleet.” There is a real risk that these tankers will break down at sea and cause an oil spill.
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