By Mr. Dana A. Goward, president of the Resilient Navigation and Timing Foundation.

A year-long study sponsored by the European Space Agency (ESA) says that the United Kingdom (UK) should create a “hybrid system” of positioning, navigation and timing (PNT) capability to ensure uninterrupted maritime commerce and protect its critical infrastructure. The 1,174 page report concludes that a combination of Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS), eLoran, and the short range R-mode VDES, is needed for maritime navigation. These would also benefit other critical national infrastructures. It also recommends local positioning systems such as LOCATA for port operations.