The plug is being pulled on a radio navigational system that for decades was the preferred choice of mariners in waters off the U.S.
As low-cost GPS has emerged in recent years, the LORAN-C system has become obsolete and is no longer needed for navigation or safety, the Department of Homeland Security says. Over the protests of some U.S. senators and others who say the LORAN network should be maintained as a GPS backup, most of the nation's LORAN transmission towers will be turned off Feb. 8, with the remainder being shut down by Oct. 1.
LORAN — short for "long-range navigation" — was developed during World War II for military ships and aircraft. LORAN-C was developed for civilian use in 1957 and uses radio signals from 24 land-based towers operated by the Coast Guard across the U.S. to determine positions at sea or in the air.
For decades, it was the standard-issue navigation system for commercial fishing boats, recreational craft and other vessels, as well as a supplemental navigation aid on many small aircraft. At the peak, an estimated 1.2 million to 1.5 million were in use.