PntGuard delivers maritime resilience against navigation signal interference

Tschudi Shipping Company, NAL Research, and SGM Technology AS have launched PntGuard, a standalone maritime navigation security system designed to counter increasing incidents of GNSS and GPS spoofing and jamming at sea. PntGuard functions independently from other ship bridge infrastructure and is comprised of an above-deck receiver connected to the Iridium satellite network and a below-deck bridge display showing both falsified and true vessel positions in real time.

Signal disruption from electronic interference is on the rise, attributed to land-based sources, hostile vessels, and unauthorized "dark fleet" operators. These attacks can shift a ship's position on electronic charts, trigger warnings, or cause cascading failures in navigation systems, increasing the risk of collision, sanctions violations, and insurance disputes. Global shipping reports cite a 300% rise in GNSS interference over the past six months, with high-risk areas including the Black Sea, Baltic, and Eastern Mediterranean.

PntGuard uses Assured Positioning, Navigation, and Timing (APNT) technology, leveraging Iridium's constellation of low-Earth orbit satellites to transmit a secure position signal approximately one thousand times stronger than traditional GPS. This robust alternative resists jamming and spoofing and can be deployed rapidly with minimal modification to vessel systems. The device logs authenticated tracks and supplies "single point of truth" location records for crews, charterers, and insurers, supporting compliance and claims when data is disputed.

This technology has been proven in extended sea trials and independent jammer assessments, including Norway's Andoya Jammertest program and pilot projects with major shipowners and maritime war risk insurer DNK. PntGuard is commercially available, scalable for fleets, and designed for straightforward installation.