A growing wave of GPS signal interference in the Persian Gulf has triggered serious navigation anomalies, with vessels near Iranian waters appearing in implausible locations—sometimes thousands of miles away. One of the most alarming cases involved the Front Tyne, an oil tanker sailing off the coast of Iran, which suddenly showed its position in rural Russia on publicly available AIS tracking data.
According to maritime security analysts, this incident is part of a larger pattern of GPS jamming affecting nearly 1,000 commercial vessels in the Gulf and Strait of Hormuz since late May 2025. Experts believe the disruptions are likely a result of deliberate electronic warfare measures—possibly originating from Iranian military installations—intended to confuse tracking systems used by Western intelligence, Israel, or shipping insurers.
The Front Tyne was not alone. Several other ships, including the Front Eagle, have also experienced GPS spoofing, which led to erratic course data, “teleporting” locations, and even dangerous maritime incidents. In one case, the Front Eagle collided with another vessel near the Strait of Hormuz shortly after displaying positional errors, causing a fire onboard. Fortunately, all 24 crew members were rescued without serious injury.
The increased interference has prompted shipping advisories from the UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO), which urged vessels to rely on radar and visual navigation instead of GPS when transiting the region. The International Maritime Organization (IMO) has also raised concerns about the safety of navigation in the Gulf, especially given the region’s critical role in global oil exports.
