Pratik Bijlani –
The Company of Master Mariners of India (CMMI) held its Monthly Lecture on 6th August at the Anglo-Eastern Maritime Training Centre (AEMTC), Andheri, Mumbai, bringing renewed attention to one of the most pressing challenges facing modern bridge teams: navigating safely when warfare and electronic interference begin to compromise the systems, they rely upon.
Capt Kamalaksha Kamath, Fellow-CMMI and Assistant Program Head & Assistant General Manager, Anglo-Eastern Ship Management (India) Pvt. Ltd., delivered the presentation, titled Impact of War on ECDIS Navigation. Drawing on his expertise in ECDIS training and safe navigation, he examined how missile attacks, drones, mines, GNSS jamming and spoofing, cyber threats and electronic warfare are changing the navigational risk environment.
While ECDIS, AIS and GNSS have transformed bridge operations, Capt. Kamath stressed that electronic information cannot be treated as infallible, particularly in conflict-affected waters. GNSS disruption can distort positioning information, while spoofing may be especially dangerous because false information can appear credible without immediately triggering an alarm. A compromised position can consequently create an inaccurate picture of surrounding traffic and hazards.
The presentation therefore placed strong emphasis on verification. Navigators should cross-check electronic information using radar, ARPA, visual observations, traditional navigation techniques, radar overlays, parallel indexing, visual bearings and echo sounder checks. Suspicious floating, drifting, anchored or submerged objects must also be treated cautiously, reported and logged, with appropriate warnings communicated to other vessels.
Capt. Kamath further highlighted the importance of intelligence and navigational warnings, including NAVAREA information, company instructions and flag-state guidance. Such information must form part of voyage planning and bridge-team decision-making when operating in high-risk areas. “Safety of navigation is no longer simply about collision avoidance and preventing grounding. It also means avoiding areas where vessels may be exposed to attacks, whether those threats are intended or unintended, and making navigational decisions based on the complete risk picture.” said Capt. Kamath.
The discussion reinforced that modern warfare can extend far beyond physical attacks. Electronic and cyber disruption can directly affect the information used by bridge teams to make critical decisions. This makes cybersecurity awareness, contingency planning, continuous monitoring and effective communication increasingly important components of navigational safety. The lecture also underlined the continuing importance of the Master’s discretion and crew safety when operating in conflict zones. Compliance with regulations and guidance remains essential, but navigators must maintain the professional judgment required to assess changing circumstances and respond appropriately.
Looking ahead, resilient navigation will increasingly depend on layered safeguards, including multi-GNSS systems, sensor fusion, cyber protection and emerging navigation technologies. Yet these systems must complement rather than replace established seamanship. “The future of resilient navigation will depend on combining new technology with established seamanship. Multi-GNSS, sensor fusion and cyber protection can provide additional safeguards, but they must work alongside verification, lookout, reporting and the professional judgment of the bridge team.” Capt. Kamath said.
The CMMI lecture ultimately delivered a clear message: as maritime security threats become increasingly complex, technology alone cannot guarantee safe navigation. The strongest defence remains a well-trained and vigilant bridge team capable of questioning electronic information, recognising its limitations and combining modern tools with sound navigational judgment.
Marex Media