The UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) has issued a new advisory following a surge in reports of interference affecting the Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) and AIS data. The warning comes as Qatar continues efforts to fix a “technical fault in GPS,” first reported over the weekend.
UKMTO said the reports, which began increasing from October 3 to October 7th, are concentrated around Bandar-e-Pars (Iran), the Strait of Hormuz, and Port Sudan. The organisation warned that incidents have risen sharply compared to last week, urging vessels to exercise heightened caution. It also noted that ships are observing persistent AIS speed anomalies across the Gulf, Port Sudan, and the Suez Canal.
In response, Qatar’s Ministry of Transport temporarily suspended maritime navigation on October 4, later easing restrictions to permit daytime operations only. Smaller vessels, including fishing and tourism boats, remain restricted to within 12 nautical miles and must return to port before sunset.
Amid the ongoing disruptions, UKMTO reiterated an earlier Joint Maritime Information Centre (JMIC) advisory urging ships not to rely solely on electronic navigation systems. This reminder follows past incidents linked to GPS interference, notably the grounding of the MSC Antonia in the Red Sea in May 2025, which was widely attributed to GPS jamming.
While electronic interference is considered a routine issue in the region from the Red Sea to the Arabian Gulf, authorities continue to warn of its risks. The source of the current disruptions across the Gulf remains undetermined.
source: UKMTO
