GPS safety information for mariners

The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) has issued a special safety bulletin to all mariners that use GPS to prepare for a roll-over event that will occur on April 6.

On that date navigation data from some older GPS systems might become inaccurate due to the "week number" roll-over event.

This could cause stand-alone GPS receivers and systems using GPS chips, to produce data that is 19.7 years either in the past or future, therefore generating errors in both the GPS position and time. However, if on-board equipment has been installed after August 1999, or has regular firmware updates from the manufacturer, there should be minimal risk of an error occurring.

Luke Hallett, radio spectrum policy co-ordinator for the MCA, said: "If your GPS is more than 10-years-old or it’s had no firmware updates then you’re definitely at higher risk of your GPS not working from April 6. If your GPS falls into either of those categories you need to check with the manufacturer before April 6, otherwise time and position data used for navigation could become inaccurate. It’s important that GPS users check their systems as soon as possible to ensure that they won’t be affected by the impending roll-over."

The MCA’s safety bulletin is intended to help operators understand the implications of the week-number roll-over and to take action to ensure all GPS updates are completed.

For more information on the roll-over event please search for "GPS safety bulletin" online.

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