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Abstract
In June 1988 the Fonds National de la Recherche Scientifique (FNRS) de Belgique sponsored a test project of precise kinematic GPS marine positioning on the North Sea near the seaport of Zeebrugge (3°11; 51 °20). Until now, variations in sea bottom morphology have been detected from bathymetric vessels using classical radio positioning systems. However, in coastal areas with rapidly changing conditions the survey takes too long and only the use of a fast‐moving platform can provide an effective solution. In 1983 the Belgian Government instructed the Belgian company Eurosense to start the development of a specially designed Hovercraft‐based sounding system. The objective of the Zeebrugge experiment was to examine whether Global Positioning System (GPS) precise kinematic positioning is fully reliable substitute for the classical radio positioning of a fast‐moving platform.