It has been reported recently that an MSC container vessel, MSC ANTONIA, has run aground around 100 nautical miles (nm) off the coast of Jeddah, in Saudi Arabia due to a GPS jamming incident. See here in Riviera Maritime for reference.
In response to this developing story, Captain Steve Bomgardner, Vice President of Shipping and Offshore at Pole Star Global, offers the following analysis:
“I’ve seen firsthand how the surge in jamming, spoofing, and other AIS tampering has made our oceans more dangerous. A case like this was bound to happen sooner or later. I’m grateful that, on this occasion, every seafarer came through unharmed.
“In reviewing the data, we also concluded that the vessel’s AIS was subject to GPS jamming. This happens when a threat actor introduces fake signals which the GPS unit picks up as genuine, therefore giving the vessel’s crew an inaccurate picture of where they are. This instance highlights the need for good watch keeping and to raise awareness across the maritime community regarding the risks from electronic warfare.
“While most attacks we have seen in the past twelve months display sophisticated jamming by placing the vessel in a precise location, the jamming in this instance was unsophisticated. However, this reinforces the point that any form of electronic warfare, no matter how sophisticated, presents a danger to the very seafarers that our economies rely upon.”
About Steve:
Captain Steve Bomgardner serves as the Vice President of Shipping & Offshore at Pole Star Global. With 20 years of global leadership experience in the Oil & Gas and Maritime Industries, he is a seasoned business leader and master mariner. His extensive expertise encompasses operations, project management, business development, and corporate strategy. Steve is also a dedicated board adviser, with a particular focus on driving new technology initiatives related to Environmental, Social, and Corporate Governance (ESG) and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) to foster organisational growth.
About Pole Star Global
Pole Star Global is a world leader in maritime intelligence solutions, empowering organisations across the supply chain with tools for sanctions screening, regulatory compliance, and vessel tracking. With solutions like PurpleTRAC and PODIUM, Pole Star Global continues to support safe, transparent, and compliant global trade. Learn more at www.polestarglobal.com.
