A marine radar is a device used on ships and boats to detect other vessels, land mass and navigation hazards. It works by emitting radio waves and then receiving echoes that bounce off objects in its path.
The system processes these echoes to determine the distance and bearing of detected objects, providing critical information for safe navigation, collision avoidance and situational awareness, especially in low visibility conditions such as fog or at night.
The range of marine radar can vary depending on several factors, including the power of the radar system, the height of the radar antenna, and environmental conditions. Typically, marine radar systems can detect objects up to 24 nautical miles away.
However, under ideal conditions with a powerful radar system and high rise antenna, detection ranges can extend beyond 48 nautical miles. The practical range may be reduced by factors such as weather, maritime conditions and the size and composition of detected objects.
Marine radar is generally considered safe to use. The radar waves emitted by these systems are low power and non-ionizing, meaning they do not carry enough energy to ionize atoms or molecules or cause direct harm to biological tissues.
While direct exposure to the point-blank radar beam should be minimized, the design and operational protocols of marine radar systems ensure that radio frequency radiation levels are well within established safety guidelines, making them safe for members crew and passengers on ships