SharpEye Radar Improves Pirate Detection

 

“Thick low clouds and rain may provide a hiding place for pirate craft,” warns a CHIRP report about an incident in the South China Sea. While passing the Anamabas Archipeligo in the middle of the night, an officer of the watch noticed two small unidentified targets on the radar, and thick low clouds forming and developing in their direction. The targets became lost in rain clutter. Some time later he received a distress call from a tanker in the vicinity advising that it had been boarded by pirates.

 

The ‘lesson learned’ was that a careful radar watch should be kept on areas of thick low clouds and rain, adjusting range and rain clutter accordingly, the watchkeeper concluded. “While this is good advice, the truth is that, in these conditions, most commercial marine radars will struggle to detect the type of small craft favoured by pirates,” said Spike Hughes, Kelvin Hughes’ Commercial Business Director “However, not all radars are the same. Our SharpEye solid state technology is exceptionally effective in detecting small targets, especially in high levels of rain and sea clutter and can prove a valuable tool in the early detection of pirates.

 

 “Furthermore, SharpEye™ can help to take the strain off radar watchkeepers by automatically alerting them to craft displaying hostile behaviour patterns. Pirates typically use boats with very small radar cross-sections and approach their intended victims on a direct track, most often from astern and frequently at night.

 

“SharpEye’s optional doppler processing means it can extract targets showing certain velocity characteristics. The detection process is completely autonomous of the display system and can be used to drive a MantaDigital display’s second PPI. All targets meeting the velocity filter characteristics will be displayed, with a warning/alarm if required.”