Maritime Industry Briefing: GPS Spoofing Threats, Red Sea Violence, Jones Act Politics, and Carbon Capture Progress

## Maritime Industry Briefing ### GPS Interference Off California Raises Navigation Safety Alarm A significant GPS interference event off the California coast is drawing renewed attention to the vulnerability of global shipping to electronic navigation disruption. According to gCaptain, seven vessels approaching the Port of Long Beach late on January 29, 2026 experienced interference that prompted bridge officers to key their microphones — a telling sign of the confusion such incidents create in busy approach corridors. The event, detailed by Capt. James Haley and Dana A. Goward, serves as a stark warning for the broader industry: GPS spoofing and jamming, long associated with conflict zones such as the Black Sea and the Gulf, are now manifesting in major U.S. commercial shipping lanes. Experts continue to urge the maritime sector to invest in redundant positioning systems and to treat GPS as one input among many rather than a sole source of navigational truth. ### Armed Boarding Off Yemen as Red Sea Tensions Persist A merchant vessel was illegally boarded by armed personnel off the coast of Yemen this week, with a second ship reporting a suspicious approach in the same area, according to gCaptain. The UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) issued a fresh security warning following the incidents, underscoring that the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden corridor remains one of the world's most hazardous shipping lanes. Despite a period of reduced Houthi activity earlier in the year, the latest incidents signal that the threat to commercial shipping in the region has not abated. Operators are advised to maintain heightened vigilance, adhere to Best Management Practices (BMP), and register transits with UKMTO. ### House Republicans Press Trump to Let Jones Act Waivers Lapse House Speaker Mike Johnson and several Republican colleagues have written to President Donald Trump urging him to allow Jones Act waivers to expire as scheduled in mid-August, rather than extending them further, Reuters reports via gCaptain. The waivers, which permit non-U.S.-flagged vessels to carry cargo between domestic ports, have been a contentious issue within the Republican Party, pitting free-market advocates against traditional supporters of the U.S. merchant marine and domestic shipbuilding interests. The letter signals growing political pressure to restore full Jones Act protections, a move that would have significant implications for coastal and inter-island shipping markets, particularly in Hawaii, Alaska, and Puerto Rico. ### Onboard Carbon Capture Gains Traction but Faces Hurdles A new assessment from gCaptain examines the state of onboard carbon capture (OCC) technology as of 2026, painting a picture of cautious but genuine progress. While the shipping industry has historically favored practical, proven solutions, OCC is beginning to move from pilot projects toward limited commercial deployment. Challenges remain significant — including the weight and space requirements of capture systems, the logistics of CO2 offloading at port, and questions around long-term storage — but proponents argue the technology offers a viable bridging solution for vessels that cannot yet transition to alternative fuels. Regulatory developments under the IMO's revised greenhouse gas strategy are expected to shape the pace of adoption in the years ahead.