GOODNIGHT LORAN C

Some news you need to use:

"The Coast Guard strongly urges mariners currently using LORAN-C for navigation to shift to a GPS navigation system and become familiar with its operation as soon as possible. Mariners will not be able to rely upon LORAN-C for navigation as of Feb. 8, 2010."

"*** Special Notice Regarding LORAN Closure: *** In accordance with the DHS Appropriations Act, the U.S. Coast Guard will terminate the transmission of all U.S. LORAN-C signals effective 2000Z 08 Feb 2010. At that time, the U.S. LORAN-C signal will be unusable and permanently discontinued. This termination does not affect U.S. participation in the Russian American or Canadian LORAN-C chains. U.S. participation in these chains will continue temporarily in accordance with international agreements. You may read more and download pertinent documents via our LORAN-C page."

Todays the day when the Coast Guard shuts down most of the Loran transmitters around the country.

When I bought BIANKA in 1995 it had a KINGS 8001 Loran unit already installed.

It took a season or two for me to really appreciate it's usefulness. It was pretty reliable but, somehow occassionaly failed just when I needed it most. I viewed it as just another tool that I could use when sailing. But, it was so useful that I did feel the need to get a GPS unit for the boat until 2008. It's interesting to ponder how many lives were saved and how many safe passages were made thanks to all the people in the Coast Guard operating the Loran C stations that were often located hundreds of miles from the sea.

Then there are all the engineers and people who put the Loran units together in companies like King Radio. Started by an engineer named Ed King. He was a private pilot in the 1950's who thought the units he could by for his plane were too expensive and did not fit his needs. So he designed his own and started a company. Roger McGuinn yes that Roger McGuinn of the Byrds fame posted the story of Ed King and his company. This quote by Ed King I think shows why he was succesful:
"If you have highly innovative, reliable products at competitive prices, a lot of your marketing problems are solved."
I'd say that's good advice for anyone thinking about starting a business.

So it is the end of another era. The end of the history of a technology designed to help use sailors keep away from danger. But, it was not just the technology but, the unkown people behind it that kept those signals beaming out.

"COAST GUARD PERSONNEL HAVE STAFFED AND OPERATED LORAN SINCE 1943. SINCE THAT TIME, LORAN HAS GONE THROUGH SEVERAL CHANGES WITH INCREDIBLE ACCURACY AND WITH NEAR ZERO LOST TIME. THE LORAN SYSTEM SUPERBLY SUPPORTED NAVIGATION AND POSITIONING NEEDS FOR MANY YEARS, AND HAS BEEN A FOUNDATIONAL ELEMENT OF THE COAST GUARDS LONG AND PROUD HISTORY. THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR CONTINUED PROFESSIONALISM AND DEDICATION TO THE LORAN PROGRAM AND THE COAST GUARD. -Master Chief Charles W. Bowen"


Good night Loran and thank you.