Context: Recently, the Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS) has been accepted as a component of the World Wide Radio Navigation System (WWRNS) for operation in the Indian Ocean Region by theMaritime Safety Committee (MSC) of International Maritime Organization (IMO).

• With this, India has become the fourth country in the world to have its independent regional navigation satellite system recognised by the IMO.

Significance

• It will enable merchant vessels to use IRNSS for obtaining position information to assist in the navigation of ships in ocean waters within approximately 1500 km from Indian boundary.
• The area covered is 50°N latitude, 55°E longitude, 5°S latitude and 110°E longitude.
• It is a significant achievement towards the ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ initiative of the Union government.

Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS)

• IRNSS is an independent regional navigation satellite system developed by India.
• It is designed by the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) to provide accurate position information service to assist in the navigation of ships in Indian Ocean waters.
• It enables users to map out their location (altitude, longitude and latitude).
• IRNSS is a constellation of 7 satellites in space (ranging from IRNSS -1A to IRNSS 1G).
• Three – located in the geostationary orbit over the Indian Ocean
• Four – located in geosynchronous orbits with the desired inclination and equatorial crossings in two different planes

Objective

• To cut down India's dependency on foreign navigation satellite systems.

IRNSS will provide two types of services

• Standard Positioning Service (SPS) – provided to all the users
• Restricted Service (RS) – an encrypted service provided only to the authorised users

The IRNSS System is expected to provide a position accuracy of better than 20 m in the primary service area.
Applications of IRNSS are

• Terrestrial, Aerial and Marine Navigation
• Disaster Management
• Vehicle tracking and fleet management
• Integration with mobile phones
• Precise Timing
• Mapping and Geodetic data capture
• Terrestrial navigation aid for hikers and travellers
• Visual and voice navigation for drivers

Radio Navigation System

• It is the application of radio frequencies to determine a position of an vessel or an obstruction on the Earth.
• It consist of networks of transmitters that allow the user to locate his position in relation to the network.
• In navigational systems the transmitters broadcast sufficient information so that the location can automatically be calculated and displayed.
• The basic principles are measurements from/to electric beacons, especially; Angular directions, distances and distance differences and velocity.

Key Facts

• IRNSS is a regional satellite navigation system, the American GPS is a global satellite navigation system.

About International Maritime Organisation (IMO)

• IMO is the UN specialized agency with responsibility for the safety and security of shipping and the prevention of marine pollution by ships.
• Its primary purpose is to develop and maintain a comprehensive regulatory framework for shipping and its remit today includes safety, environmental concerns, legal matters, technical co-operation, maritime security and the efficiency of shipping.
• IMO is governed by an assembly of members and is financially administered by a council of members elected from the assembly.