Technical Circular No.201606-An Alert about  Rader Equippment and its Function

Technical Circular No.201606

According to requirements of SOLAS convention and MSC resolution, radars equipped on ships should meet the following requests stipulated in Resolution MSC.64(67) since Janurary 1st, 1999. Please check your own ships correspondingly. And our surveyors will condcut targeted inspection as well:  

1.　Minimum effective diameter. Not less than 180mm on ships of 150－1,000 gross tonnage; not less than 250mm on ships of 1,000－10,000 gross tonnage; Not less than 340mm on ships 10,000 gross tonnage and upwards. Note: the effective diameter refers to the displayed diameter without external magnification. Besides, in line with SOLAS convention, ships of over 3000 gross tonnage should be equipped with two radars, which both shoud satissfy the above requirements.

2. Performance Monitor. MSC requires radars should be outfitted with this installation. However, several manufactures take the fuction (PM installation) as a selectable part to reduce the cost, which leads that some ship owners or shipyards not familiar with the requirements mentioned above may ignore this function.

Furthermore, Resolution MSC.192(79) passed on December 6th, 2004 recommends that for radars installes after July 1st, 2008,requiremnts about the above displayed diameter are amended as : Not less than 180mm on ships of less than 500 gross tonnage(minimum displayed area 195x195mm); not less than 250mm on ships of 500－10,000 gross tonnage(minimum displayed area 270x270mm); not less than 320mm on ships of 10,000 gross tonnage and upwards (minimum displayed area 340x340mm).