GNSS

EGNOS Safety of Life Assisted Service for Maritime Users

EGNOS, Europe’s regional satellite-based augmentation system (SBAS), is adding a new service to its repertoire: The EGNOS Safety of Life Assisted Service for Maritime Users (ESMAS).

DGNSS, short for Differential Global Navigation Satellite System, is an enhancement to GNSS that was developed to correct errors and inaccuracies in the GNSS system and thus allow for more accurate positioning information.

Because it does not require any additional infrastructure, ESMAS is well-positioned to support navigation in ocean and coastal waters, including harbour approaches and entrances. All that is needed to utilise the service is an SBAS-enabled GNSS receiver developed according to the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) standards. With such a receiver onboard, a vessel can navigate with increased accuracy and can receive alerts signalling errors on GNSS with the objective to avoid unsafe situation. Furthermore, EGNOS interfaces NAVAREA coordinators, to timely provide Maritime Safety Information (MSI) – the navigational warnings and other urgent safety related messages – that could be broadcast to the ships using conventional channels.

Although the service targets merchant vessels, the ESMAS signal is available free of charge to all SOLAS-conforming vessels from EU Member States, Iceland, Norway and Switzerland.

The ESMAS offers a service tailored to maritime users to enable marine navigation in harbour entrances, harbour approaches and coastal waters of the European Union Member States and EGNOS contributing countries (Iceland, Norway and Switzerland) in line with the IMO Resolution A.1046. www.euspa.europa.eu