Aids to Navigation Program - Update on LORAN C

Status update on Long-range Navigation (Loran C)

Announcement regarding Loran-C Service

On January 7, 2010, the United States Coast Guard (USCG) announced the termination of the U.S. Loran-C signal and phased decommissioning of the U.S. Loran-C infrastructure. The USCG will terminate the transmissions of all US domestic Loran-C signals including those covering the Great Lakes Loran-C Chain GRI 8970 and the Northeast U.S. Loran-C Chain GRI 9960 at 2000z on February 8, 2010. All U.S. Loran-C stations are expected to cease transmitting by October 1, 2010.

The Loran-C systems in Canada and U.S. work in tandem. Once the U.S. service is discontinued, the Canadian system will not be operational. Consequently, Canada will also decommission its Loran-C system in 2010. The official date for termination in Canada has not been set at this time although, it is expected to take place on or before October 1, 2010.

Authorities in Canada and the U.S. will be collaborating on plans to discontinue Loran-C systems to minimize disruption in navigation services.  Updates will be provided on CCG’s Notices to Mariners website, in CCG's monthly Notices to Mariners and on the CCG’s website as further detail becomes available.

Comments should be directed to the Manager, Aids to Navigation, Canadian Coast Guard, 200 Kent St., 5th floor, Ottawa, Canada K1A 0E6, e-mail at
Joanna.Bellamy@dfo-mpo.gc.ca or by phone at (613) 998-1405 within three months from the date of this notice. Any objections raised must state the facts on which they are based and should include supporting information on safety, commerce and public benefit.

January 20, 2010