This post details about What are the two types of radar in ships?, Why do ships have two radars?, Which radar is used on ship?
What are the two types of radar in ships?
Ships generally use two main types of radar systems: navigation radar and surface search radar. Navigation radar is mainly used for short-range navigation and collision avoidance. It helps ships detect other ships, land masses, buoys and other nearby navigation hazards. Navigational radar systems on ships are essential for safe maneuvering in ports, narrow channels and high-traffic areas, providing sailors with real-time information about their immediate surroundings.
Surface search radar, on the other hand, is designed for longer range surveillance and target detection beyond the immediate vicinity of the ship. It allows ships to monitor a wider area of the sea surface, detect distant ships, aircraft and potential threats and maintain situational awareness over longer ranges. Surface search radar systems on ships are crucial for maritime surveillance, defense operations and surveillance of maritime traffic in open waters.
Why do ships have two radars?
Radar systems on ships generally operate in two main modes:
Which radar is used on ship?
Automatic Radar Plotting Assist (ARPA): ARPA mode provides automated tracking and plotting of radar-detected targets. It calculates and displays target information such as bearing, range, closest approach point (CPA), closest time approach point (TCPA) and course/speed on the ground. ARPA improves situational awareness by helping mariners monitor vessel movements, predict potential collisions, and make navigation decisions to maintain safe distances and courses.
Radar Beacon (Racon): Racon mode is used in conjunction with radar to receive signals from shore-based or floating radar beacons. These beacons emit distinctive radar signals that ships can detect and use to determine their position relative to the beacon. Racon signals provide navigation references and additional aids in precise positioning, especially in poor visibility conditions or when navigating near coastlines, ports or other critical maritime areas.
The ships are equipped with two radars primarily for redundancy and operational flexibility. Redundancy ensures that if one radar system malfunctions or requires maintenance, the other radar can continue to provide essential navigation and surveillance capabilities. Operational flexibility allows ships to use different radar systems for specific purposes, such as short-range navigation (using navigation radar) and long-range surveillance (using surface search radar) . Having two radars also improves situational awareness by providing overlap coverage and different operational capabilities, thereby improving overall safety at sea.
The number of radars installed on a ship varies depending on the size of the ship, mission requirements and operational needs. Larger vessels such as commercial vessels, naval vessels and research vessels may have multiple radar systems installed to cover different operational scenarios and improve navigation safety. In general, ships usually have at least two radars: one for short-range navigation and collision avoidance (navigation radar) and another for long-range surveillance and target detection (surface search radar). ). Additional radar systems can be installed for specialized functions such as weather monitoring, air traffic control or specific mission requirements in military and research vessels. The exact number and types of radars on board a ship are determined by regulatory requirements, operational considerations, and the ship’s role in maritime operations.
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