New Delhi: To further the digital initiative in the maritime sector, the Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Shri Sarbananda Sonowal inaugurated the indigenous Differential Global Navigation Satellite System (DGNSS) -SAGAR SAMPARK.
The Sagar Sampark -DGNSS, set up at six locations under the Directorate General of Lighthouses and Lightships, will help mariners in safe navigation and reduce the risk of collisions, groundings, and accidents in port and harbor areas. It is a terrestrial-based enhancement system that corrects the errors and inaccuracies in the Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) allowing for more accurate positioning information.
Speaking on the occasion, Shri Sarbananda Sonowal said, ‘Under the leadership of the Prime Minister, Shri. Narendra Modi ji, the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways have given high priority to the safety of Navigation, especially due to the considerable increase in shipping volume in the recent past.’
The launch of ‘Sagar Sampark – Differential Global Navigation Satellite System (DGNSS)’ at 06 locations under DGLL, will definitely enhance the capability of the DGLL in the field of Radio Aids to Marine Navigation, he said.
Mentioning the DGNSS system, Union Minister of State for Ports, Shipping & Waterways and Tourism Shri Shripad Y. Naik said, ‘It is an important Radio Aid to Navigation towards the fulfillment of international obligations of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO), Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) and International Association of Marine Aids to Navigation and Lighthouse Authorities (IALA)’.
Following the recapitalization process, which involves integrating multiple satellite constellations such as GPS and Global Navigation Satellite System (GLONASS), DGNSS enhances availability and redundancy in accordance with international standards. This, in turn, enables mariners to enhance their positioning accuracy within a range of 5 meters.
The most recent DGNSS system now possesses the capability to transmit corrections for GPS and GLONASS. By doing so, DGNSS greatly enhances the accuracy of GPS positioning by mitigating errors caused by atmospheric interference, satellite clock drift, and other factors. This improvement is made possible through the utilization of state-of-the-art technology receivers and the latest software. As a result, the accuracy of error correction has been enhanced from a range of 5 to 10 meters to less than 5 meters for 100 nautical miles from the Indian coastlines.
