BLog
Advanced Collision Avoidance Systems Setup
Why It Matters
In busy marinas, tight channels, and open water at night, split-second awareness prevents costly incidents. An integrated collision avoidance suite—radar, sonar, AIS, and thermal imaging—gives your bridge a single, trusted picture for safer decisions and smoother passages.
What We Install & Integrate
In busy marinas, tight channels, and open water at night, split-second awareness prevents costly incidents. An integrated collision avoidance suite—radar, sonar, AIS, and thermal imaging—gives your bridge a single, trusted picture for safer decisions and smoother passages.
What We Install & Integrate
- Marine Radar: short/medium/long-range target tracking, MARPA/ARPA.
- Forward-Looking Sonar (FLS): shallow-water and reef approach confidence.
- AIS Class A/B: CPA/TCPA alerts, target info overlay.
- Thermal Imaging/Night Vision: person-overboard spotting, unlit obstacles.
- Sensor Fusion & Overlays: radar/sonar/AIS/thermal on ECDIS/plotter.
- NMEA 2000 / NMEA 0183 / Ethernet: reliable network backbones.
- Autopilot & Alerting: guarded zones, sounders, bridge annunciation.
Key Benefits
Low-Visibility Confidence
Detect nearby vessels, floating debris, and uncharted obstacles in fog, rain, and night; integrate with radar and night vision for 360° coverage.
Real-Time Safety
CPA/TCPA alerts, proximity warnings for marina maneuvers, and automatic guard zones reduce workload and risk.
Regulatory Alignment
Supports IMO guidance and COLREGs compliance; data logging aids post-incident analysis.
Operational Efficiency
Automated detection, route optimization around congestion, and smooth autopilot handoffs reduce fatigue and fuel burn.
Our Process
1) System Design & Specification
Will it work with my existing plotter/autopilot?
Yes—most systems integrate via NMEA 2000/0183 or Ethernet. We validate all interfaces during design and testing.
Do I need both radar and thermal?
For serious night/low-vis operations, yes. Radar excels at range and traffic; thermal sees unlit objects and people in the water.
How long is a typical install?
Small yachts: usually a few days; larger refits with new wiring and mounts can take longer depending on scope and yard access.
What about data privacy and recording?
We configure logging to your policy—retention windows, access control, and encrypted storage where required.
Ready to Upgrade Your Bridge?Get a tailored specification, timeline, and quote for your yacht.
Contact yachtservice.me to schedule design and installation.
Low-Visibility Confidence
Detect nearby vessels, floating debris, and uncharted obstacles in fog, rain, and night; integrate with radar and night vision for 360° coverage.
Real-Time Safety
CPA/TCPA alerts, proximity warnings for marina maneuvers, and automatic guard zones reduce workload and risk.
Regulatory Alignment
Supports IMO guidance and COLREGs compliance; data logging aids post-incident analysis.
Operational Efficiency
Automated detection, route optimization around congestion, and smooth autopilot handoffs reduce fatigue and fuel burn.
Our Process
1) System Design & Specification
- Operational profile review (ranges, cruising grounds, night ops).
- Selection of radar array, sonar type, AIS class, thermal camera FOV/resolution.
- Compatibility check with existing MFDs, ECDIS, autopilot, and networks.
- Optimal sensor placement for 360° coverage and minimal shadowing.
- Marine-grade mounts, sealed penetrations, EMI/EMC-aware cable routing.
- Power budgeting and protected circuits.
- Network provisioning (NMEA2K device instances/PGNs, IP addressing).
- Radar tuning (gain, sea/rain clutter, interference rejection), sonar range gates, AIS filtering, thermal palettes.
- Alert thresholds tailored to yacht size/speed and bridge SOPs.
- Target acquisition and guard-zone tests; CPA/TCPA verification.
- Scenario simulations: crowded fairway, anchorage approach, night run.
- Fine-tuning sensitivity and alarm logic.
- Crew training: best-practice use, watchstanding checklists, fallback modes.
- Custom quick-reference cards and maintenance schedules.
- Remote support pathway for updates and diagnostics.
- Inaccurate/Delayed Detection: misaligned scanners, old firmware, poor AIS/sonar calibration.
- Interference/Dropouts: EMI from other systems, rain/wave clutter, damaged or sub-spec cabling.
- Integration Gaps: wrong data mapping to autopilot/MFDs, mismatched network protocols.
- Drift in Performance: salt/dirt on sensors, worn radar drives, software bugs affecting tracking/alarms.
- Fully installed and calibrated collision avoidance suite.
- Network map + wiring diagram (as-built).
- Configuration backup (radar, sonar, MFD, AIS).
- Crew training (operator + engineer level).
- Maintenance plan with service intervals and cleaning checklist.
- Quarterly Check: sensor cleaning, alignment check, firmware updates, log review.
- Pre-Season Audit: sea trial validation and alert logic re-tuning.
- On-Call Remote Support: diagnostics and configuration assistance.
Will it work with my existing plotter/autopilot?
Yes—most systems integrate via NMEA 2000/0183 or Ethernet. We validate all interfaces during design and testing.
Do I need both radar and thermal?
For serious night/low-vis operations, yes. Radar excels at range and traffic; thermal sees unlit objects and people in the water.
How long is a typical install?
Small yachts: usually a few days; larger refits with new wiring and mounts can take longer depending on scope and yard access.
What about data privacy and recording?
We configure logging to your policy—retention windows, access control, and encrypted storage where required.
Ready to Upgrade Your Bridge?Get a tailored specification, timeline, and quote for your yacht.
Contact yachtservice.me to schedule design and installation.
Navigating a yacht at night presents unique challenges, including limited visibility, unmarked obstacles, and unpredictable water conditions. Night vision camera systems improve situational awareness by providing clear images in low-light environments, ensuring safer and more efficient navigation after dark.
Weather conditions play a critical role in yacht navigation, affecting safety, comfort, and efficiency. Weather routing systems provide real-time data on wind patterns, ocean currents, wave heights, and atmospheric conditions, helping captains make informed route decisions for safer and more efficient voyages.