The need for conformity in GPS navigation and pilotage systems

There has been a steady growth in the development of satellite-based vessel tracking systems and electronics aids for pilotage, especially on inland waterways. The Global Positioning System (GPS) is a key element in many of the activities that have been undertaken. The global aspects of the technology, however, do not ensure conformity among emerging systems. It is time to make a concerted effort to realize the international benefits of truly global systems versus the present tendency to implement regional systems. At the present time, significant efforts are underway in the Panama Canal, the Great Lakes/Saint Lawrence Seaway system, and in Central America to modernize maritime systems using GPS satellite technology. System upgrades are not limited to just waterways in the Americas, but rather are taking place on a global scale. The proliferation of advanced radionavigation and pilotage systems is occurring because of demands for more efficient and safer maritime operations. This paper describes and examines some of the current forcing functions that are driving the evolution in marine technology. Another major factor analyzed is the growing trend to tightly couple the requirements of vessel traffic management systems with those of radionavigation systems on-board vessels. The most significant point of contention regarding changes taking place in maritime systems worldwide, particularly those employing automatic identification system (AIS) technology, is the unavailability of international standards. This paper discusses the possibility of establishing some measure of conformity now in the number of GPS based AIS navigation and pilotage systems.