Finland, Estonia issue alert over Gulf of Finland GPS disruptions
HELSINKI, June 13 (Xinhua) -- The Finnish Transport and Communications Agency (Traficom) announced on Friday that Finland and Estonia have issued a navigational warning for vessels in the Gulf of Finland due to a significant increase in disruptions to Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS).
According to a Traficom press release, GNSS interference has risen markedly in the first half of this year, posing serious challenges to maritime navigation and safety. These disruptions hinder vessels from accurately determining their positions, heightening the risk of navigational errors and potential maritime accidents with severe environmental implications.
"Disruptions have already led to several near-miss incidents in the Gulf of Finland. To avoid more serious consequences, it is vital that vessels are prepared to operate under such conditions," said Sanna Sonninen, Traficom's maritime director.
The GNSS interference is also affecting the Automatic Identification System (AIS), a key tool for tracking and identifying vessels. Reports of AIS spoofing -- the transmission of false navigational data -- have become more frequent, further compounding safety concerns.
In response, authorities in Finland and Estonia have jointly issued a navigational warning covering both countries' territorial waters and exclusive economic zones. Vessels transiting the Gulf will receive automated updates on GNSS disruptions through the Electronic Navigational Chart system.
Amid the escalating frequency of such disruptions, maritime authorities stressed the importance of heightened situational awareness. "Issuing timely warnings about maritime hazards is a core part of our mandate," Sonninen added.
Finland and Estonia also plan to report the GNSS interference to the International Maritime Organization (IMO), which will share the information with its 176 member states, Traficom said.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Borneo Post
7 hours ago
- Borneo Post
China's driverless tech finds new traction on global roads
This photo taken on April 17, 2025 shows a WeRide Robobus (front) operating at an airport in Zurich, Switzerland. (Xinhua) GUANGZHOU (June 30): Driverless sedans glide smoothly to the curb, autonomous shuttles whisk travelers through airport terminals, and robotic sweepers hum along busy streets. These once-futuristic scenes are fast entering everyday life across the globe, and many of them are powered by Chinese technology. From San Jose of California to Paris and Riyadh, China's swiftly advancing autonomous driving industry is gaining ground, exporting cutting-edge solutions that are quietly transforming how people move and how cities function. 'Chinese autonomous driving firms are accelerating their global expansion, fueled by mature technologies, swift deployment cycles and rising international demand,' said Liu Jinshan, a professor at Jinan University in south China's Guangzhou. This photo taken on March 11, 2025 shows an interior view of a WeRide Robobus operating in downtown Barcelona, Spain. (Xinhua) GOING GLOBAL In late May, Chinese autonomous driving firm WeRide made headlines as its self-driving vehicles began rolling through the streets of the capital Riyadh and the historic city of AlUla in Saudi Arabia. Almost simultaneously, another major player, Guangzhou-based also shifted its global ambitions into higher gear, announcing a strategic partnership with Dubai's Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) to launch autonomous transport services. These moves are among the latest examples of a broader trend — a larger push by Chinese autonomous vehicle (AV) developers to expand their global presence. Chinese-developed autonomous driving technologies have made inroads into a growing number of global markets — including the United States, France, Spain, Switzerland, Luxembourg, Singapore, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. Chinese tech giant Baidu serves as a prime example of this momentum. In the first quarter of 2025, its autonomous ride-hailing arm, Apollo Go, completed over 1.4 million rides, up 75 percent year on year, bringing its global total to over 11 million rides by May. Much of this success can be attributed to China's innovation-friendly environment. By the end of 2024, the country had established 17 national-level intelligent connected vehicle testing zones, with more than 32,000 kilometers of open test roads and over 120 million kilometers of cumulative test mileage, according to official figures. As Chinese AV firms gain global traction, collaboration with global players is deepening. Uber, for instance, has teamed up with WeRide and to integrate Chinese-developed AVs into its ride-hailing platform, starting with pilot operations in the Middle East. 'It's clear that the future of mobility will be increasingly shared, electric and autonomous,' said Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi. 'We look forward to working with Chinese leading AV companies to help bring the benefits of autonomous technology to cities around the world.' This photo taken on May 25, 2025 shows a WeRide Robobus operating in the historic city of AlUla in Saudi Arabia. (Xinhua) MUTUAL BENEFITS The rise of China's autonomous driving industry is creating ripple effects across global markets, offering development opportunities far beyond transportation. Peng Jun, co-founder and CEO of said the company's overseas expansion has sparked deep collaboration across the broader mobility value chain — spanning auto manufacturing, R&D, logistics and smart mobility services. 'Deploying autonomous vehicles attracts global component suppliers to invest in local facilities, which helps form industrial clusters and boosts the competitiveness of local manufacturing,' Peng noted. The benefits go beyond factories. According to Zhang Yuxue, WeRide's director of PR and marketing, local partnerships have also led to job creation in areas such as safety operations, fleet management and technical support. Notably, as Chinese AV companies venture into regions with varied road conditions, climates and regulatory environments, their technologies are evolving in step. 'Expanding globally helps us sharpen our algorithms to adapt to complex, real-world scenarios, ranging from the narrow urban roads of Europe to the extreme heat of the Middle East,' said Zhang. Wu Qiong, an autonomous driving expert at Baidu, said Apollo Go is building a 'full-spectrum technical validation chain' as it expands overseas. 'For example, we're testing in Switzerland, a right-hand-drive country with some of the world's most stringent traffic laws, which offers one of the toughest proving grounds for autonomous vehicles,' Wu said. CHALLENGES ON ROAD AHEAD Despite impressive strides, industry insiders note that autonomous driving remains in the early stages of commercialization and global expansion. China's autonomous driving industry still faces significant headwinds on its path to global growth, said Wu Zhanchi, a professor at Jinan University. 'Challenges range from adapting to overseas regulatory frameworks and overcoming high technical localization barriers, to ensuring compliance with cross-border data regulations and fierce competition from international giants,' Wu added. 'The sector also faces significant challenges in technological innovation and the development of sustainable business models,' said Zhu Xichan, professor at Tongji University in Shanghai. Zhu emphasized that achieving scale is crucial for the long-term viability of the AV industry. 'Global expansion not only broadens the range of real-world application scenarios but also boosts deployment volumes, both of which are vital for refining technologies and developing commercially viable models,' he said. Yet, several companies have begun to tackle these hurdles head-on. Peng Jun of said the company has overcome key challenges — such as cost reduction and front-end mass production. 'Our products have reached a level of maturity, and we have achieved positive unit economics,' he noted. Looking ahead, Peng said will continue to expand in Asia, the Middle East and Europe, leveraging existing partnerships to accelerate the growth of its global footprint. Zhang Yuxue echoed this sentiment, saying that WeRide is committed to broadening its international reach by promoting a diverse fleet of autonomous solutions, ranging from robotaxis and minibuses to freight trucks, sanitation vehicles and advanced self-driving systems. General Manager of Apollo Go for Europe and the Middle East Zhang Liang said Baidu aims to build the largest driverless fleet in Abu Dhabi by partnering with local stakeholders to jointly foster a robust autonomous driving ecosystem. In addition, Baidu is exploring cooperation with local new energy firms to develop innovative services, including battery swapping, which Zhang said will help improve operational efficiency. 'Given their growing track record in both domestic and international markets, there is good reason to believe that Chinese AV firms will secure a strong foothold in this global mobility market, ultimately becoming a hallmark of 'Made-in-China' innovation,' Wu noted. – Xinhua China driverless cars smart autonomous driving technology
The Star
11 hours ago
- The Star
Indonesia launches major EV battery project in West Java
JAKARTA, June 29 (Xinhua) -- Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto on Sunday attended a groundbreaking ceremony for a major electric vehicle (EV) battery megaproject in Karawang, West Java. With a joint investment of nearly 6 billion U.S. dollars, the initiative will encompass nickel mining and processing, battery materials production, battery manufacturing, and recycling. Indonesia is currently the world's largest producer of nickel and holds the biggest-known reserves of the metal, an essential component in EV batteries. The project is a joint operation between Indonesia's state-owned miner PT Aneka Tambang (Antam), the state-owned investment holding company PT and Indonesia Battery Corporation (IBC), in collaboration with Chinese firm Ningbo Contemporary Brunp Lygend Co., Ltd. (CBL). "This groundbreaking is proof of our leaders' seriousness in collaborating with our partners and our friends in China. We can work together on a program that I think can be called colossal, an extraordinary breakthrough," Prabowo said in his speech. Indonesia's Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Bahlil Lahadalia said that the project is expected to create 35,000 jobs and contribute up to 42 billion dollars annually to Indonesia's GDP. Bahlil noted that the plant will have the capacity to supply batteries for 300,000 vehicles, which would help reduce Indonesia's fuel imports by approximately 300,000 kiloliters per year. He added that the project aligned with Prabowo's vision for more equitable national development. While it was launching in Java, about three-quarters of the total investment is set to be directed to North Maluku province.
The Star
5 days ago
- The Star
Robotaxi service by Waymo, Uber expands to U.S. Atlanta
SAN FRANCISCO, June 24 (Xinhua) -- Waymo and Uber said on Tuesday that their commercial robotaxi service will expand to Atlanta in the U.S. state of Georgia. The service will initially cover about 65 square miles in Atlanta. Waymo's fleet in Atlanta is in the "dozens" and will eventually be expanded over time, the company said. Uber said it has an annual run rate of 1.5 million mobility and delivery trips by autonomous vehicles in partnerships with 18 autonomous vehicle companies on its network. Waymo said it provides 250,000 paid robotaxi rides every week across Austin, Los Angeles, Phoenix, and San Francisco. Robotaxi rides will cost the same as an UberX, Uber Comfort, or Uber Comfort Electric driven by a human, the companies said. The "Waymo on Uber" service splits the responsibilities of owning and operating a fleet of driverless vehicles. Uber handles the charging, maintenance, and cleaning of the autonomous vehicles, and manages access to the robotaxis via its app. Meanwhile, Waymo monitors the tech and the autonomous operations, including roadside assistance and certain aspects of rider support, according to a report by TechCrunch. Last September, Uber and Waymo announced plans to offer robotaxi service in Austin and Atlanta in early 2025 as part of an expanded partnership. In March, the companies started offering the "Waymo on Uber" robotaxi service in Austin. Waymo has more than 100 robotaxis in its commercial fleet in Austin, according to the company.
