Marine safety service
Radar Service & Repair
Radar fault finding, repair, magnetron and scanner overhaul, performance checks and ARPA/ATA testing for X-band and S-band marine radar systems.
Overview
Marine radar service and repair
Marine radar service and repair keeps a ship's primary collision-avoidance sensor working reliably. Radar shows other vessels, coastlines, buoys and SART signals in all visibility, and feeds target tracking, ECDIS overlays and integrated bridge systems. A weak magnetron, misaligned heading marker or failed scanner motor can quietly degrade performance until an officer can no longer trust what is on the display.
vslSafety coordinates maker-trained radar engineers at the vessel's port for planned maintenance, pre-survey checks and urgent breakdown repairs, including attendance at anchorage or during short cargo calls.
Regulatory requirements and standards
Carriage of radar is set by SOLAS regulation V/19. Ships of 300 gross tonnage and upwards and all passenger ships must have a 9 GHz (X-band) radar and an electronic plotting aid. Ships of 500 gross tonnage and upwards need an automatic tracking aid. Ships of 3,000 gross tonnage and upwards must also have a 3 GHz (S-band) radar, or where the administration considers it appropriate a second 9 GHz radar, functionally independent of the first, with a second automatic tracking aid. Ships of 10,000 gross tonnage and upwards require an automatic radar plotting aid able to track at least 20 targets. Regulation V/19.4 requires navigational equipment to be installed, tested and maintained so as to minimise malfunction.
Radar equipment installed on or after 1 July 2008 should meet the revised performance standards in resolution MSC.192(79), which combine radar, target tracking and AIS target display into one standard. Radars are listed in the Record of Equipment for the Cargo Ship Safety Equipment Certificate and examined at safety equipment surveys. Repairs should be done by technicians trained and authorised by the maker, using approved spare parts.
Inspection and servicing intervals
| Item | Requirement | Interval | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Radar installation | Examination at safety equipment survey | Annual, periodical and renewal surveys | SOLAS I/8, V/19 |
| Magnetron | Performance check, replacement at end of life | Based on running hours and maker's guidance | Maker instructions |
| Scanner unit and drive | Inspection, lubrication, belt and brush checks | Per planned maintenance system | Maker instructions, ISM Code |
| Heading and bearing alignment | Check against visual bearings | After installation or repair and when errors are noted | MSC.192(79) |
| Performance monitor | Crew checks of radar performance | Routinely, as per bridge procedures | Maker instructions |
What the service includes
- Fault diagnosis using built-in test menus, error logs and measurement at the transceiver and display
- Magnetron current, transmitter output and receiver sensitivity checks
- Magnetron, modulator, receiver or display processor replacement
- Scanner motor, gearbox, rotary joint, slip ring and drive belt inspection and overhaul
- Heading line alignment and bearing error correction against known targets
- Tuning, range accuracy and blind sector checks
- Target tracking (ATA/ARPA) and trial manoeuvre function checks
- Verification of gyro, speed log, GNSS and AIS inputs to the radar
- Software updates released by the maker and display calibration
- Written service report with measured values and recommendations
Equipment types covered
Providers work on standalone X-band and S-band radars, chart radars, radars integrated into bridge systems, and solid-state or magnetron-based transceivers. Common makers include Furuno, JRC, Kelvin Hughes, Sperry Marine, Raytheon Anschütz and Consilium. Radar performance depends on correct heading and speed inputs, so faults are often traced to the gyro or log covered by our navigation equipment services. Radar data is also recorded by the voyage data recorder, which is tested under VDR annual performance testing.
Common defects and PSC deficiencies
- Radar not operational or showing weak echoes due to an ageing magnetron
- Heading line misaligned, producing bearing errors on targets
- ARPA or ATA tracking not working because of a missing gyro or speed log input
- Scanner stopped or noisy because of worn gearbox, motor or bearings
- Display brightness or screen faults making the picture hard to read in daylight
- Officers unfamiliar with radar functions, alarms and settings, a point checked during the joint Paris and Tokyo MoU concentrated inspection campaign on safety of navigation in 2017
Certificates and documents you receive
The engineer issues a service report describing the fault, measurements taken, parts replaced and final performance checks. When a radar has been repaired after a PSC deficiency, the report can be used to show the port State control officer or class that the defect has been cleared. Replacement parts are listed with serial numbers for the maintenance records.
How to prepare the vessel
Note the error codes and symptoms, and check whether both radars are affected. Arrange a permit to work for the scanner platform, ensure the radar can be isolated, and plan the work so that the ship is not left without a working radar before sailing. If replacement parts are likely, share the model and serial number early so the maker's parts can be sourced. Keep the radar operator's and maker's manuals available.
Information needed for a quotation
- Vessel name, IMO number, flag and class
- Port, berth or anchorage, ETA and ETD
- Radar maker, model, band (X or S), serial numbers and software version
- Description of the fault, error messages and photos of the display
- Whether there is a PSC deficiency or class condition to be cleared
- Spare parts held on board
vslSafety coordinates a suitable radar engineer at the vessel's port and confirms scope, timing and cost before attendance.
Frequently asked questions
How long does a marine radar magnetron last?
Magnetron life depends on the model, operating hours and how often the radar is left transmitting, and makers give their own guidance. Many ships replace magnetrons when transmitter current and echo strength drop below the maker's limits rather than on a fixed schedule. Keeping a spare magnetron for the main radar on board is common practice, especially for ships on long trading patterns.
Which ships need both X-band and S-band radar?
SOLAS regulation V/19 requires a 9 GHz (X-band) radar on ships of 300 gross tonnage and upwards and on passenger ships. Ships of 3,000 gross tonnage and upwards must also carry a 3 GHz (S-band) radar, or where the administration considers it appropriate a second 9 GHz radar, functionally independent of the first. Only a 9 GHz radar will trigger a radar SART.
Can a ship sail with one radar out of order?
This is decided by the flag administration and, in port, by the port State control officer. Ships required to carry two radars will usually need either a repair or permission from the flag to proceed to a repair port with conditions. The master should report the defect and keep records of the actions taken.
Is there a mandatory annual radar test?
SOLAS does not set a separate annual performance test for radar as it does for VDR and AIS. The radar is examined during safety equipment surveys, and regulation V/19.4 requires navigational equipment to be tested and maintained to minimise malfunction. Many companies therefore schedule a yearly maker's check in their planned maintenance system.
