Important Step Towards R-Mode Standardization

30 April 2025

In early 2025, a major milestone was reached for satellite-independent navigation: the International Organization for Marine Aids to Navigation (IALA) published a new guideline for R-Mode systems operating on medium wave (MF) frequencies.

This development is particularly important for ORMOBASS. For the first time, the signal characteristics and the navigation messages for medium frequency (MF) R-Mode were standardized with the help of the IALA Guideline 1187. The new guideline provides clear technical specifications that manufacturers and maritime authorities can rely on when implementing R-Mode systems, service and mobile devices.

The ORMOBASS project team contributed directly to this achievement. Results from ORMOBASS and the finished project R-Mode Baltic were incorporated into the new standard, ensuring that our ongoing work in implementing a pre-operational R-Mode Baltic systems is aligned to future world-wide implementations.

Standardization is a crucial step towards the broader operational use of R-Mode. It creates legal and technical certainty for infrastructure providers, manufacturers, and users — and it brings us significantly closer to a resilient and robust backup navigation system for the Baltic Sea and beyond.

We are proud to be part of this important development and will continue to support the further implementation and operationalization of R-Mode technology!