What is the purpose of radar in navigation?

Radar plays a crucial role in navigation by detecting other vessels and obstacles, which is vital for safe travel on the water. By emitting radio waves and analyzing the returned signals, radar systems can identify the presence, distance, and speed of surrounding objects. This capability allows mariners to maintain situational awareness, especially in poor visibility conditions such as fog, rain, or nighttime.

While measuring water depth, determining vessel speed, and monitoring weather conditions are important aspects of navigation, these tasks rely on different instruments and systems, such as echo sounders for depth measurement, speed logs for tracking vessel speed, and meteorological equipment for weather observations. Radar specifically enhances collision avoidance and navigational safety by providing real-time information about nearby threats, making it an indispensable tool in modern maritime navigation.