Office of Public Affairs
U.S. Coast Guard Seventeenth District
United States Coast Guard
Date: Feb. 8, 2010
Contact: (907) 487-5700
Petty Officer 1st Class Sara Francis
News Release

Coast Guard concludes Loran-C signal broadcast after more than 67 years
"Photos and video Available"

KODIAK, Alaska - Coast Guard Loran-C Station Narrow Cape's real time termination monitor displays the end of the loran signal for the Gulf of Alaska Chain. From May 25, 1942 to Feb. 8, 2010 the loran signal was used as a navigational tool for aircraft and maritime vessel. U.S. Coast Guard video by Petty Officer 1st Class Sara Francis.  KODIAK, Alaska - (back row left to right) Storekeeper 2nd Class Jonathan Clary, Machinery Technician 1st Class Tim McGuyrt, Chief Electronics Technician Thomas Sears, Electronics Technician 2nd Class Mark Canchola, (front row left to right) Electronics Technician 3rd Class Robert Perkins and Electronics Technician 3rd Class Jeremy Berg pose for a crew photo after the termination of the Loran-C signal ceremony Feb. 8, 2010. The crew will stand by for one week before beginning final closure of the station. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Jonathan Lally.  KODIAK, Alaska - Electronics Technician 3rd Class Robert Perkins works on the Loran Station Narrow Cape signal during the termination of the Gulf of Alaska signal Feb. 8, 2010. Perkins was stationed at the Kodiak Island unit directly out of Electronics Technician "A" school and has served for a year and a half. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 1st Class Sara Francis.  KODIAK, Alaska - Equipment at Loran-C Station Narrow Cape sits in stand by mode following the termination of the North American Loran-C signal Feb. 8, 2010. The crew will wait one week before beginning to dismantle equipment and strengthen the station's physical security as they will have a less frequent presence. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 1st Class Sara Francis.  KODIAK, Alaska - Coast Guard Loran-C Station Narrow Cape's 625-foot tower stands silent after the ceremony for switching off the loran signal Feb. 8, 2010. The loran signal has been operating for 67 years, 8 months, and 24 days from May 25, 1942 to Feb. 8, 2010. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Jonathan Lally.  KODIAK, Alaska - Coast Guard Loran-C Station Narrow Cape's real time termination monitor displays the end of the loran signal for the Gulf of Alaska Chain. From May 25, 1942 to Feb. 8, 2010 the loran signal was used as a navigational tool for aircraft and maritime vessel. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Jonathan Lally.
Editors note: For high resolution photos or to download the video please click on the image above.

KODIAK, Alaska - Crews at the Coast Guard Long Range Aids to Navigation stations, including the six Alaska-based stations, turned off their domestic signal across the nation at 11 a.m. Monday.

The shutdown of the signal concludes the broadcast of the U.S. domestic signal. Stations Attu and Shoal Cove, which are bound by bi-lateral agreements with Russia and Canada, will continue to broadcast their international signals until later this year. All the stations will continue to be maintained and manned as the closure of the facilities proceeds over the coming months. Decommissioning dates have yet to be set and plans for the dismantlement of the stations are in development.

Loran-C was originally developed to provide radio-navigation service for U.S. coastal waters and was later expanded to include complete coverage of the continental U.S. as well as most of Alaska. Twenty-four U.S. Loran-C stations work in partnership with Canadian and Russian stations to provide coverage in Canadian waters and the Bering Sea. The system provided better than 0.25 nautical mile absolute accuracy for within the published areas and provided navigation, location, and timing services for both civil and military air, land and marine users. It was approved as an en route supplemental air navigation system for both Instrument Flight Rule and Visual Flight Rule operations.

The Loran-C system served the 48 continental states, their coastal areas, parts of Alaska and neighboring countries. Dedicated Coast Guard men and women have done an excellent job running and maintaining the Loran-C signal for 67 years, 8 months and 24 days. It is a service and mission of which the entire Coast Guard can be proud.

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