Norwegian insurer seeks to confront signal jamming

NORWEGIAN insurer Den Norske Krigsforsikring for Skib (DNK) has launched a program to provide members access to specialist services to counter the growing risk of jamming and spoofing.

The program is said to offer members advanced systems to protect against the growing threat of global navigation satellite system (GNSS) signal interference.

This industry-first program is said to allow members to select among vendors specialising in A-PNT to lower premiums and provide secure, accurate and reliable positioning, navigation and timing data.

DNK chief executive Svein Ringbakken said the program was consistent with DNK’s mission to utilise digital technologies to provide comprehensive war risk insurance services for Norwegian-owned or controlled vessels and mobile units, helping to safeguard assets from war, terror, piracy, and cyberattacks.

“Over the past five years, we have seen a sharp in increase in GNSS interference, especially in the Black Sea, the Baltic Sea and more recently, in the Persian Gulf and Red Sea,” Mr Ringbakken said.

“GNSS signal interference can not only increase the risk of collision or grounding but also compromise critical safety systems.

"This program offers our members the opportunity to lower premiums by investing in cost-effective A-PNT solutions to maintain situational awareness, safety, and positioning integrity.”

Norwegian authorities, represented by Minister of Fisheries and Ocean Policy,
Marianne Sivertsen Næss (centre), and the Norwegian Shipowners' Association,
represented by CEO Knut Arild Hareide (right), pictured here with DNK managing
director Svein Ringbakken, have supported the project. Image: DNK

Regular DCN contributor Captain Matt Shirley recently reported on the risks of signal jamming in the modern maritime world and how global satellite navigation systems (GNSS) now underpin far more than directions.

DNK project manager, Alan Belardinelli, meanwhile, said readily available signal jamming and spoofing equipment allowed hostile state or non-state actors to disrupt a ship’s GNSS positioning signals.

“GNSS jamming and spoofing not only compromise situational awareness, the intentional manipulation of positioning data can also lead vessels into sanctioned or restricted zones,” Mr Belardinelli said.

Under the direction of the DNK board, DNK evaluated A-PNT solutions based on Iridium’s global network of 66 Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites, the world’s only pole-to-pole positioning and communications service.

This initiative led to the creation of a DNK project group that reviewed several PNT solutions providers, with Iridium’s satellite network emerging as the clear choice for commercial maritime deployment.

“After extensive research, DNK found that the Iridium signal, which is 1,000 times more powerful than GNSS signals, is significantly more difficult to disrupt, adding a significant layer of enhanced positioning resilience,” Mr Belardinelli said.

“Signal attacks can also play havoc with onboard digital systems that rely on GNSS to provide a source of timing, necessary for safe navigation and efficient operations.”