Notices to Mariners

eLoran Transmissions

06 - 2007

Issue Date: Friday 14 September 2007

Aid:

Area:

Further to CIL NOTICE TO MARINERS NO 4 OF 2007 (DATED 7 JUNE 2007).

The General Lighthouse Authorities are establishing a new Enhanced LORAN (eL0RAN) station in Cumbria, UK, (approximate coordinates are Latitude 54° 54'.65N, Longitude 003° 17'.23W). System verification and calibration will start on or around 1 October and the broadcast signal will be "blinked" meaning that user receivers should not use the signal. The station will be declared fully operational around 1 December when the "blink" will be removed so that user receivers can use the signal. Existing LORAN receivers may require software upgrades from their equipment suppliers to use the new signal.

The signals from Cumbria will be pulsed, with a Group Repetition Interval of 6731 (67,310 micro seconds) and an Emission Delay of 27,300 microseconds. The signals will be modulated with Eurofix data messages with the facility to broadcast both differential LORAN corrections and Universal Co-ordinated Time parameters.

Maritime users are strongly encouraged to use LORAN as a navigational input system to back-up the widespread use of GPS.

All radio navigation systems are susceptible to interference (including jamming) and environmental effects, which can adversely affect their availability. The GLAs strongly advise that no single aids to navigation system should be used in isolation and that users should use all alternative means available to cross check the information received.

The General Lighthouse Authorities are committed to the future of eLORAN which offers a terrestrial radionavigation system without the vulnerability to interference of GNSS, and are keen to hear feedback from the user community regarding the performance of eLORAN.

By Order, S. G. R. Ruttle, Chief Executive.