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Why ships need digital eyes when GPS is jammed
A collision between tankers in the Strait of Hormuz highlighted the risk of an accident if GPS is interfered with and AIS switched off
A recent accident between the tankers Front Eagle and Adalynn in the Strait of Hormuz was more than a tragic shipping incident.
This collision is a stark warning to the maritime industry about the risks of GPS and AIS interference, says the co-founder of a navigational technology provider.
Both vessels were operating in an area reportedly impacted by satellite-positioning jamming and automatic identification system (AIS) spoofing in the days leading up to the crash.
Adalynn is allegedly part of the so-called ’dark fleet’ – a loosely connected group of tankers that operate without AIS transponders, often to obscure their movements and evade sanctions. Meanwhile, VLCC Front Eagle was apparently shown in vessel tracking data to be onshore in Iran two days before the collision, which is a strong indicator of GPS interference.
“This event illustrates just how fragile maritime situational awareness has become in high-risk regions,” says Orca AI chief executive and co-founder Yarden Gross.
“The digital infrastructure we have long relied on – GPS, AIS and electronic navigational charts on ECDIS – is increasingly vulnerable to manipulation, especially in geopolitically tense chokepoints like the Strait of Hormuz.”
He says bridge crews are increasingly navigating “in a kind of digital fog, where position data can be corrupted, nearby ships may be invisible by design and critical seconds for decision-making are lost to uncertainty.”
Mr Gross says it is time to rethink navigation resilience and not expect human watchkeepers to bear that burden alone.
“AI-powered situational awareness systems, especially based on computer vision, offer a critical second layer of perception,” he comments.
“These tools can detect, classify and track vessel, and other objects in real time, regardless of whether they are transmitting AIS or whether GPS is functioning accurately. They act as a digital co-pilot, alerting the crew to nearby threats and enabling faster, more confident decisions, even when traditional tools fail.”
Radar remains the primary and most trusted anti-collision tool. When AIS and GPS are degraded, radar often becomes the only reliable means of detecting surrounding traffic.
“But even radar has limitations,” says Mr Gross. “Interpreting radar returns can be challenging in heavy-trafficked waterways, and small targets may be lost in noise, so there is no automatic identification.”
This is where AI-powered situational awareness, based on sensitive computer vision, can play a vital supporting role to navigators.
According to tracking data reconstructions, Front Eagle made a sharp starboard turn just before the collision.
“In that kind of moment – when an unreported or unidentified vessel suddenly emerges in close quarters – the value of a redundant, independent perception system becomes obvious,” comments Mr Gross. “Computer vision sees what is physically there, not what compromised data might suggest,” he continues. “This is not about replacing radar or human vigilance, but is about strengthening both.”
In areas where GPS and AIS spoofing and jamming are increasingly common, AI-based computer vision can serve as a vital safeguard to detect the undetectable, confirm the uncertain and ensure crews remain situationally aware when traditional inputs are in doubt.
“We have long accepted redundancy in mechanical systems as a maritime safety principle,” says Mr Gross. “We double up critical systems, train for worst-case scenarios and insist on backup plans. It is time to apply the same logic to navigational awareness.”
When GPS falters and AIS goes dark, ships still navigate on information and human vision. “What is required is intelligent vision that helps bridge navigators see, and take appropriate action, with clarity,” says Mr Gross.
Riviera and OrcaAI jointly hosted a webinar in May 2025 to highlight the importance of AI-based computer-supported vision to reduce risk of ship accidents. Use this link to view this webinar in Riviera’s growing library of content.
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