BANGABANDHU SHEIKH MUJIBUR RAHMAN
MARITIME UNIVERSITY, BANGLADESH
Dept. of Naval Architecture & Offshore Engineering
Assignment – 1
EEE ASSIGNMENT
Course Name: Electrical and Electronic Technology for Marine Applications
Lab Course Code: EEE - 2101
Submitted by
Name: Sayeem Ahsan
Program: B.Sc. in NAOE
ID: 23411036
Session: 2022-2023
Abstract
This assignment examines the critical role of Radar, Wireless Communication, and Navigation
Systems in modern ships. Radar systems aid in collision avoidance and weather monitoring,
while wireless communication ensures continuous contact between ships and shores.
Navigation systems, including GPS and autopilot, provide accurate positioning and route
planning. Together, these technologies improve maritime safety, efficiency, and decision-
making, supporting smooth and secure ship operations.
Objectives:
1. Understanding the Role of Radar Systems.
2. Exploring Wireless Communication in Maritime Operations.
3. Evaluating the Importance of Navigation Systems.
4. Enhancing Maritime Safety and Efficiency.
5. Analyzing Technological Integration
6. Investigating Challenges and Future Trends.
Introduction:
With advancements in maritime technology, the integration of radar, wireless communication, and
navigation systems has become essential for ship operations. These technologies play a vital role in
ensuring safety, efficiency, and real-time monitoring. This paper explores the significance, working
principles, and applications of these systems in the maritime industry.
Theory:
1. Radar System in Ships:
Marine radar is a vital navigational aid used for identifying, tracking, and positioning vessels,
contributing significantly to safe navigation and collision avoidance. Operating on either X-band
(around 10 GHz) or S-band (around 3 GHz) frequencies, it offers distinct advantages. X-band provides
higher resolution and sharper images, ideal for clear conditions, while S-band is less affected by rain
and fog, making it suitable for adverse weather. International regulations, specifically SOLAS Chapter
5, Regulation 19, mandate radar carriage for vessels of a certain size (3000 gross tonnage and upwards),
often requiring both X-band and S-band systems or equivalent. The radar display, known as the Plan
Position Indicator (PPI), presents a clear view of surrounding targets, facilitating navigation and traffic
monitoring, even when ships are docked. Features like Closest Point of Approach (CPA), Time to Closest
Point of Approach (TCPA), Electronic Bearing Line (EBL), and Variable Range Marker (VRM) enhance
the radar's utility in preventing accidents. Essentially, marine radar is a mandatory tool, crucial for
adhering to the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea (COLREGs) and ensuring safe
passage.
A ship's radar system has four main components:
• Transmitter: Generates radio waves with high frequency.
• Antenna: Sends out the radio waves and picks up any returning signals.
• Receiver: Processes the signals that return.
• Display: Translates the processed signals into a visual image.
Functions of Radar in Ships
On a ship, radar primarily functions to detect and track the position of other vessels, landmasses, and
buoys at a distance, allowing for safe navigation, especially in conditions with limited visibility, by
helping to avoid collisions through target tracking and bearing measurement capabilities; essentially
acting as a critical navigational aid to determine a ship's position relative to surrounding objects.
Key functions of radar on ships:
• Target Detection: Identify and locate other ships, landmasses, buoys, and other relevant objects
within the radar range.
• Collision Avoidance: By tracking the movement of nearby targets, radar assists in predicting
potential collision courses and taking necessary evasive actions.
• Bearing Measurement: Determine the direction of a target relative to the ship's heading.
• Range Measurement: Calculate the distance between the ship and a detected target.
• Situational Awareness: Provide a comprehensive picture of the surrounding environment,
including the position of other vessels and navigational landmarks.
• Automatic Radar Plotting Aid (ARPA): Advanced radar systems can automatically track and
predict the movement of multiple targets, enhancing collision avoidance capabilities.
• Navigation in Poor Visibility: Radar is particularly valuable in fog, heavy rain, or other conditions
where visual sightlines are limited.
• Watch Alarm: Some radar systems include alarms to alert the crew to monitor the radar display
regularly.
Types of Ship Radar Systems:
• X-Band Radar (8-12 GHz): Provides high-resolution imaging, commonly used for navigation.
• S-Band Radar (2-4 GHz): Used in long-range detection, especially in harsh weather conditions.
2. Wireless Communication System in Ships:
Wireless communication is crucial for maintaining continuous contact between ships, ports, and shore-
based stations. It ensures safety, operational efficiency, and emergency response in maritime
operations. Wireless communication system on ships primarily utilizes radio technologies like VHF (Very
High Frequency) and UHF (Ultra High Frequency) to enable communication between vessels and with
shore stations, with satellite communication playing a crucial role for long-range connectivity, allowing
for voice and data transmission across vast distances at sea; this system is often referred to as the
GMDSS (Global Maritime Distress Safety System) for safety and emergency purposes.
Key points about wireless communication on ships:
Primary technologies: VHF and UHF radios are commonly used for short-range ship-to-ship
communication, particularly in coastal areas due to their line-of-sight range.
Satellite communication: For long-distance communication beyond line-of-sight, satellite networks
provide connectivity between ships and shore stations, enabling global reach.
GMDSS: The Global Maritime Distress Safety System is a standardized communication system used on
ships for emergency situations, including distress calls and safety information.
• Applications:
1. Ship-to-shore communication.
2. Ship-to-ship communication.
3. Crew communication onboard.
4. Navigation updates.
• Benefits of wireless communication on ships:
1. Flexibility and mobility: Enables communication even while the ship is in motion.
2. Cost-effectiveness: Reduces the need for extensive wired infrastructure.
3. Improved safety: Enables quick communication during emergencies.
3. Navigation System in Ships:
Marine navigation is the art and science of steering a ship from a starting point (sailing) to a destination,
efficiently and responsibly. It is an art because of the skill that the navigator must have to avoid the
dangers of navigation, and it is a science because it is based on physical, mathematical, oceanographic,
cartographic, astronomical, and other knowledge. Marine navigation can be surface or submarine.
A ship's navigation system uses a variety of equipment to help the crew navigate and stay safe. These
systems include:
Radar: Uses a rotating antenna to detect targets around the ship, such as other ships, land, and icebergs.
Echo sounder: Transmits sound pulses to determine the depth of water below the ship.
Gyro compass: Revolves along the Earth's axis to provide accurate dead reckoning data, even when the
ship is moving, or its magnetic field is disturbed.
Automatic Identification System (AIS): Uses VHF radio channels to send and receive messages between
ships, identifying their positions and other navigation data.
Global Positioning System (GPS): Provides accurate location, speed, and navigation data.
Electronic Chart Display System (ECDIS): An electronic navigation chart system that helps the crew
determine their location.
Advanced Radar Plotting Aid (ARPA): Calculates the course, speed, and aspect of multiple vessels to
help avoid collisions.
Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS): Allows ships to send and receive distress alerts,
request assistance, and access safety information.
The Importance of Navigation System in Ships:
A navigation system on a ship is crucial for ensuring safe and efficient travel by accurately determining
the vessel's position, allowing captains to plot precise routes, avoid hazards like reefs or shallow waters,
navigate through congested waterways, and ultimately reach their destination safely and on time,
especially in challenging weather conditions or low visibility situations; it also plays a key role in collision
avoidance by providing real-time information about nearby vessels, contributing to overall maritime
safety and efficient trade operations.
The importance of ship navigation systems is mainly:
Accurate positioning: Provides precise location data, enabling captains to plot the most efficient course
and avoid obstacles like reefs, shoals, or other hazards.
Collision avoidance: Allow ships to monitor the positions of nearby vessels, facilitating course
adjustments to prevent collisions, particularly in busy waterways.
Weather monitoring: Integration with weather data helps captains plan routes to avoid storms and
adverse conditions.
Fuel efficiency: Precise navigation enables optimized routes, minimizing fuel consumption by avoiding
unnecessary detours.
Port maneuvering: Critical for safe navigation in congested harbors and narrow channels, especially
when visibility is low.
Emergency response: Accurate positioning is essential for search and rescue operations at sea.
Compliance with regulations: Maritime authorities often require vessels to utilize navigation systems for
tracking and safety purposes.
Conclusion:
This exploration of radar, wireless systems, and navigation systems highlights their crucial roles in
modern shipping. Radar, with its ability to detect and track targets regardless of visibility, remains a
cornerstone of collision avoidance and situational awareness. Its dual-band functionality (X-band and
S-band) ensures adaptability to varying weather conditions, maximizing its effectiveness as a primary
navigation aid. Wireless systems have revolutionized ship operations, enabling seamless
communication, efficient data transfer, and access to critical information. From satellite communication
for long-range connectivity to VHF radio for close-quarters communication and AIS for enhanced traffic
awareness, these systems contribute significantly to safety and operational efficiency. Navigation
systems, encompassing traditional tools like magnetic and gyro compasses alongside modern
technologies like ECDIS and GPS, provide the precise positioning and course information essential for
safe and efficient voyages. The integration of these systems into a comprehensive navigation suite
empowers mariners with a holistic understanding of their environment, enabling informed decision-
making. Ultimately, the synergistic interplay of radar, wireless systems, and navigation systems is
fundamental to ensuring the safety, security, and efficiency of modern maritime operations. Continuous
advancements in these technologies promise to further enhance navigational capabilities and
contribute to a safer and more connected maritime future.
