Article by Pat Schrawder
LORAN-C IS OFFICIALLY GONE
If you still depend on your LORAN for navigation, you will find yourself among the many others who have had a rude awakening when they took their boat out for the first time this season. The LORAN stations are out-gone-finished-no more.
We have known this was coming but the date had been pushed back a number of times to the point where some thought it might not happen. In fact, it was rumored that the stations will still be available for the military as a backup in case a foreign or domestic terrorist takes out our GPS satellites. If that is true, no one in authority will say so and it really doesn’t matter. If you have a LORAN on your boat and want to still use it, you will not be able to do so.
For the definitive explanation of this situation, we only need to go to the U. S. Coast Guard website to see the statements they issued this past February:
“*** Special Notice Regarding LORAN Closure: *** In accordance with the 2010 DHS Appropriations Act, the U.S. Coast Guard terminated the transmission of all U.S. LORAN-C signals on 08 Feb 2010. This termination does not affect U.S. participation in the Russian, American or Canadian LORAN-C chains. U.S. participation in these chains will continue temporarily in accordance with international agreements….”
“…The Homeland Security Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2010 allowed for termination of the LORAN-C signal on January 4, 2010, after certification from the Commandant of the Coast Guard that it was not needed for maritime navigation and from the Secretary of DHS (Department of Homeland Security) that it is not needed as a backup for GPS…”
“…LORAN-C has, as a result of technological advancements in the last 20 years, became an antiquated system no longer required by the armed forces, the transportation sector or the nation’s security interests and is used only by a small percentage of the population. The Coast Guard understands that LORAN-C is still used by a small segment of the public and that those users will have to shift to GPS or other systems; however, continued use of limited resources to operate LORAN-C is no longer prudent use of taxpayer funds and is not allowed under the 2010 DHS Appropriation Act…”
“…The Coast Guard has enjoyed a long and close relationship with the many communities located near LORAN-C facilities and we value those relationships. The Coast Guard will continue to honor those relationships by working to minimize any adverse impacts to communities caused by site closures.
The decision to cease transmission of the LORAN-C signal reflects the president’s pledge to eliminate unnecessary federal programs...”
So what does this mean for you? If you still have a LORAN, you need to give it the “deep six”. Well, actually you need to deposit it in some recycling program bin. Then you need to go out and get a GPS system. The good news is that almost all GPS units on the market today are capable of converting Latitude & Longitude to TD’s so your old LORAN numbers can still be used. The exact spot may be a little different due to the mathematical conversion but you will be able to get to the basic spot and then, when you find the exact location, replace your original waypoint with the new updated one.
There are plenty of choices of GPS units out there from very basic ones in the $300 range to more deluxe units with charting and plotters. You’re sure to find one to meet your needs and your budget.
Pat and her husband, Larry are owners of L&L Marine Electronics in West Ocean City, MD.
