Hello,
SOLAS (Regulation 19, Chapter V)
Ships with a gross tonnage (GT) of 3,000 or more, informs us of the navigation equipment on board ships
1. Mandatory radar (and possibly a second radar)
A 3 GHz (S-band) radar is mandatory for all ships concerned. The S-band (3 GHz) is less susceptible to interference and weather conditions than the X-band (9 GHz), making it more reliable for detecting distant targets or in bad weather. It can detect and display the distance and bearing of other ships, obstacles, buoys, coastlines and navigation marks.
2. A second 9 GHz (X-band) radar may be required by the flag country's maritime administration. The X-band (9 GHz) offers better resolution for nearby targets, which is useful in coastal areas or areas with heavy traffic.
To comply with regulations, would it be possible to install a second radar screen or, more simply, an S-band (3 GHz) - X-band (9 GHz) slide switch to switch between radars?
On a modern merchant vessel:
There is usually one S-band (3 GHz) radar and one X-band (9 GHz) radar, both connected to an ARPA (automatic radar plotting aid) system.
The two radars and tracking systems are powered separately and can be switched manually or automatically in the event of a failure.