Between October 3 and 7, the UKMTO recorded widespread GNSS interference across the Gulf region, including around Bandar-e-Pars, the Strait of Hormuz, and Port Sudan. The disturbances manifested as erratic AIS speed readings in the Gulf, Port Sudan, and even parts of the Suez Canal, according to gCaptain.
Qatar’s Ministry of Transport responded by imposing a “virtually unheard of” nationwide maritime navigation suspension on October 4, later partially lifted to allow daytime movements for non-conventional vessels. LNG carriers and larger commercial ships were reportedly exempted from the full ban. AIS analytics from Trident Risk Advisors confirmed continued vessel operations near Doha and Ras Laffan.
Multiple reports from Doha area operators described their vessel position drifting toward Iran, sparking speculation of GPS spoofing or deliberate electronic jamming. The unusual displacement of position data aligns with recent patterns of GNSS disruption.
The Joint Maritime Information Center (JMIC) had previously advised since May 19 that vessels in the Red Sea and Strait of Hormuz maintain heightened alarm for GNSS interference, and not to rely solely on electronic navigation systems while traversing known disruption zones. The current wave of disturbances underscores that advisory’s relevance and the real-time hazard it foresaw.
GNSS spoofing and jamming have become recurring threats across key sea lanes, from the Baltic to the Persian Gulf, complicating maritime operations and supply chain stability. The latest incidents demonstrate that hybrid disruptions, mixing signal manipulation with conventional threats, are evolving rapidly.
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