GPS disturbances in the Gulf of Finland area have increased significantly during the early autumn, the Finnish Transport and Communications Agency (Traficom) said on Monday.
"The radio interference situation in Finland's land and sea areas is exceptional," Traficom CEO Jarkko Saarimäki said in a press release.
Yle reported in August that dozens of GPS interference reports were received from the eastern Gulf of Finland during this summer. The Coast Guard reported increased disturbances in early September.
Authorities suspect that the GPS jamming signals originate from Russia.
Traficom is asking boaters to report any disturbances noted in maritime areas via an electronic form.
The transport agency notes that GPS becomes more crucial for boats in the autumn, when evenings get dark early and there is more likelihood of fog at sea.
While electronic navigation aids are widely used in small boats, Traficom pointed out that technical aids cannot replace good navigation skills in unexpected situations. It reminds boaters to always keep up-to-date nautical charts on board.
Earlier this year, Traficom said that GPS disturbance reports had risen five-fold during 2023. Last month, GPS jamming interfered with flight operations at Joensuu Airport in eastern Finland. Last spring, Finnair flights from Estonia faced similar disruptions.
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