Coastal Surveillance Radar Solutions

A coastal surveillance system typically will require a 'standard' or an 'advanced' solid state radar as IALA recommendation V-128 also recommends that X-band radar is required to detect small RCS and wooden boats at an extended range whilst also meeting target separation and accuracy parameters.

SBS 800 and 900 SharpEye™ coastal surveillance radars meet these requirements in full whilst providing all the additional benefits and features associated with SharpEye™.

Careful selection of a VTS and coastal surveillance radar system is required to ensure the target types can be detected and tracked in the designated area covered by the vessel traffic service. Visibility, precipitation rates, sea states and propagation conditions relevant for the individual radar site also require careful consideration by the radar supplier to enable the optimal system to be specified.

Our approach to radar system design is to work closely with the right system integration companies to provide the end user a solution that is expertly recommended according to the specification and also the actual application environment.

Kelvin Hughes Surveillance SBS systems are fully remote controlled, designed for 24/7 operation and achieve extremely high range accuracy and target discrimination in range and azimuth. A significant differentiator between a SBS solid state radar solution and the next nearest alternative is full weather adaptability. An SBS-800 and 900 solution adapts automatically to changes in the weather and environmental conditions without the need for any operator intervention.

Another significant differentiator is the interoperability of a SBS system, our systems do not interfere with other systems and also are not susceptible to interference from other radar transmissions. Often a coastal surveillance system will be made up of overlapping areas of coverage by a single supplier or a mixed supplier system, the SBS system will fit seamlessly in to the radar environment whilst also not contributing to the saturation of the transmission spectrum in the area. This is a key benefit to the local VTS station, security agencies and port traffic who also have sensitive radar systems in operation and competing for space in the frequency spectrum.

The SBS-800 system is available in a single transceiver configuration with options for either single or dual frequency (diversity) operation. In the Frequency Diversity Option, only 2 frequencies are used, ensuring that good interoperability with other radars is achieved and multiple SharpEye™ radars can be operated without interference.

The SBS-900 systems utilise the same Kelvin Hughes SharpEye™ technology as is used in the SBS-800 systems. However, the SBS-900 system transmitter unit is housed in a separate, dedicated enclosure. The enclosure is designed to be situated outdoors, close to the antenna rotator and therefore does not require an air conditioned enclosure to be built close to the top of the mast. This can significantly reduce the system integration and infrastructure costs. This design is compatible with antenna suppliers of your choice.

To support remote or separated installations the Kelvin Hughes Surveillance service and maintenance display enables the operator and maintainer to monitor all aspects of radar performance and to align system parameters as required. The display can also be used as a local control display.