MUMBAI - The Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS) can be used by merchant vessels for navigating ships within the Indian ocean, the Indian Ministry of Shipping's Mumbai office said late Friday, after the UN shipping agency gave nod to the system.

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The Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System can be used by merchant vessels for navigating ships within the Indian ocean, the Indian Ministry of Shipping's Mumbai office said

The area for navigation covers 50 degrees N latitude, 55 degrees E longitude, 5 degrees S latitude and 110 degrees E longitude, which is approximately up to 1,500 km from the Indian boundary.

The IRNSS, an independent regional navigation satellite system, is similar to GPS and GLONASS and has been approved by the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) as a component of the World-Wide Radio Navigation System to provide accurate position information service to assist in the navigation of ships in the Indian Ocean.

Details of the tests carried out on merchant ships with regard to the accuracy of the system have been included in a report prepared by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), which was submitted to IMO for consideration at its Maritime Safety Committee meeting held earlier this month. 

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