ILA 2003 in Boulder, Colorado 4-6 November 2003

NELS beyond 2005

Gunn Marit HernesNELS Co-ordinating Agency Office (CAO)

Northwest European Loran-C System Co-ordinating Agency Office

Presentation outlines• NELS status

• NELS beyond 2005

• Loran-C beyond 2005 in Europe

– German initiative

– French initiative

– UK initiative

– EC

• Summary

Northwest European Loran-C System (NELS)

• NELS nations: Germany (Loran-C station Sylt)France (Loran-C station Lessay and Soustons)Norway (Loran-C station Bø, Værlandet, Jan Mayen and Berlevåg)Ireland (Loran-C station Loophead, currently resting in peace)The Netherlands Denmark (Host nation for Loran-C station Ejde)

• The current NELS Agreement period continue until 31 December 2005.

• Withdrawal from the Agreement, needs to be noticed in writing within 2 April 2004 to the Depositary (Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs).

Northwest European Loran-C System Co-ordinating Agency Office

Northwest European Loran-C System (NELS)

• All NELS nations, except France have recommended their Governments not to prolong the NELS Agreement

– In Norway the decision will be discussed in the Parliament 5 December 2003

– In Ireland no schedule for discussion in the Parliament has been set

– In the Netherlands no schedule for discussions in the Parliament has been set

– Denmark and Germany have taken a final decision - no further discussions in the Parliament is necessary

Northwest European Loran-C System (NELS)

• NELS observers

– Italy plan to dismantle their Loran-C stations by the end of 2003

– Austria remain interested in Loran-C, but await financial commitments pending a clear future for Loran-C in Europe

– UK remain interested in Loran-C and seems to get ready to commit themselves also financially

NELS beyond 2005

• Most nations have difficulties defending use of public funding operating a system with a limited number of users

• Even though no final decision has been taken, it seems likely that the NELS Agreement will not be prolonged beyond 2005

Loran-C beyond 2005 in Europe

• Three nations (Germany, France and United Kingdom) actively support Loran-C in Europe and tries in different ways to market Loran-C and establish future institutional arrangements

• The three nations have a common objective, i.e complete Loran-C coverage in Europe

• The three nations have very different approaches, but there is no conflict between the three nations – each nation support the other nations initiatives

Germany• Germany considers Loran-C as being a system, which

should compete with other navigation systems in the market. Therefore, Germany investigates organisational solutions outside governmental business. In doing so Germany is cooperating with other NELS member nations.

• Germany tries to establish a solution, which will give Loran-C coverage in all Europe

• The German solution depend on investors, which believe that there is a future for Loran-C and which believe that Loran-C can generate revenue in due time

France• France will continue to operate Loran-C in Europe until

2015• In addition to the two existing French Loran-C stations and

the French Control Centre, France is prepared to cover the operational costs of Loran-C station Ejde.

• If the German initiative fails, France is also interested in Sylt - the German Loran-C station

• To further improve the coverage, funding is sought for a new Loran-C station in Provence or the Alsace region

• France has also suggested renovation of the northern Italian station (Sellia Marina). For this purpose the Loophead station has been suggested erected.

French actions• Technical investigations related to the implementation of a

new Loran-C chain including a station in Provence and Sellia Marina (Italy)

• Research different ways of funding a new station in Provence (French Transport Ministry, Terrestrial Directorates, French Defence Ministry etc.)

• Research possible locations in Provence that will be suitable for a Loran-C station

• Analysis of the expected performance from a ”SELS” chain

French actions cont• ”SELS chain” cost analysis• Bilateral meetings between France, Germany, Italy and

Denmark

NELS actions• Optimise system performance (availability, integrity,

accuracy and continuity)• Analyse current system performance and seek solutions

where possible to improve the performance• Implement External Time References in NELS at all

stations

United Kingdom (UK)

• UK actively supports continued Loran-C operation in Europe beyond 2005

• A UK financial Loran-C commitment will depend on international cooperation resulting in acceptable European coverage.

• UK has suggested an analysis by the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) on whether Loran-C could be a fallback system for EU. No positive response from EMSA as we speak.

• There are possibilities of establishing a site in UK, by re-using redundant facilities

United Kingdom (UK) cont.

• Trinity House are currently doing risk analysis of Loran-C and other Aids to Navigation. This project is an extension of analysis already done on the GNSS vulnarability

• The analysis will be finished March 2004 and a report to the European Radio Navigation Plan WG on vulnarability (covering marine systems) will be prepared July 2004.

• Two British companies have contacted Trinity House – interested in Loran-C transmissions in UK

EC• EC has informed the NELS Steering Committee that they

will develop a radio navigation policy based on existing radio navigation systems with a solid user basis

• EC has informed the NELS Steering Committee that it is a NELS responsibility to assure that Loran-C in Europe is continued

• The UK company Helios has recently been awarded the contract for development of a European Radio Navigation Plan (ERNP). The work will be monitored by the ERNP WG.

Summary

• The NELS Agreement will most probably not be prolonged

• Loran-C will be continued in Europe– Option 1: Minimal configuration covering France ++

– Option 2: European solution, financed by private investors

– Option 3: EC supported solution