NAVAIDS

Black art into the spotlight at Seawork

17 years ago

Oddly enough, Seawork exhibitor John Simpson is becoming increasingly used to having his Echomax radar reflectors shot at as various navies around the world have found that they are very good for getting a radar fix on, which makes them useful for training and target purposes.

However, Mr Simpson tells

that when Echomax entered the market in 1999 radar reflectors were considered a ‘black art’, as very little or no data was ever supplied on them. He adds that the first thing said to him on a visit to Trinity House in 2000 was that ‘radar reflectors do not work’.

Sea trials proved this wrong. Two custom made EM305s were fitted to buoys Barrow 7 and Black Deep 7, both located around 14 miles off Harwich, and the Trinity House vessel ‘Vectis’ recorded the Echomax equipped buoys at 6.84 miles, over half a mile sooner.

After Seawork 2001, Tyne Tees Port had Echomax reflectors fitted into its new Eason/XJF buoys, jetties and seven pilot boats, including an EM400 array (which has a maximum response of 228 m2). Following ‘unsolicited compliments’ about the radar response of the polyethylene buoys, the port has taken to fitting the reflectors as standard.

‘Customisation is now a large and increasing part of the company business,’ adds Mr Simpson, and innovation is aided by John Firth’s very adaptable, patented Echomax symmetrical array. For example, a version of the two stack EM313S-2 with central 25mm rod enables either fitting of a ‘St Andrews Cross’ or lifting ring, adding to the unit’s possible applications.

The company’s remit is broad and recent contracts are as diverse as units for the Thanet wind farm, Canadian ice buoy reflectors, and an EM305 for a US airship balloon. Chevron USA have asked for pedestal mounted hazard markers off Angola and other, pedestal mounted EM305/400’s with navigation lights for use as targets for the US Navy have all added to the variety. It helps that the products on offer have a wide response range of between 62 and 228 m2, and usefully, each of the units is supported by a QinetiQ performance chart which can be found on the Echomax web site.

One recent innovation which is getting attention even before its launch at Seawork this month is the Echomax Active-X RTE, a new radar target enhancer which shows excellent performance through ±10 to 20 degrees of heel. It meets the new ISO 8729-2 X-band requirements which become effective 22 July 09 and features a triple alarm facility while only taking 15mA on standby. The unit has already had a wide range of interest and orders ‘from around the world’, says Mr Simpson.