How it works | Testimonials | CARD FAQ

We are pleased to provide the following information to assist seafarers from around the world. However, neither Safety at Sea (Australasia)Pty Ltd nor its agents will have any responsibility or liability for any inaccuracies, falsehoods or errors in the information. For further information please see our disclaimer notice.

One of the greatest dangers when going to sea is the risk of collision.

Most countries require that large ships be equipped with radar, but this cannot assure that bridge personnel are watching their equipment.

As important, many small vessels do not reflect radar signals adequately, making it very difficult for ship's officers to avoid collision in restricted visibility.

The passive Collision Avoidance Radar Detector (C.A.R.D) system is an installed instrument that will display the relative bearing of any vessel operating radar within the range of the antenna's horizon. It will also alert crew by producing a tone each time the antenna processes a signal. High and low audio levels have been provided

How it works

Simply, C.A.R.D. is a passive instrument that reads transmitting radar. Properly installed, C.A.R.D. will receive signals from as far away as 5 - 8 nautical miles. For example, a ship is heading towards you off the starboard beam. On the C.A.R.D. monitor, the starboard display bar will light, indicating the direction.
If the ship heads to 135 degrees starboard, the starboard and aft lights will both shine -- again, indicating the direction.

Your permanent position is in the center marked by a bright green light

Radar transmissions travel line-of sight, so the distance at which a target is detected is dependent primarily on two factors:

• height of the transmitting antenna
• height of your receiving antenna

To activate the system and set the level of sensitivity, simply turn the dial clockwise.
C.A.R.D. does not define range but shows contact movement. The reception is adjustable by changing the sensitivity control dial.

Testimonials

In 1998, Mick Bird started a global rowing trip in a customized vessel. He had C.A.R.D. on board.
"The C.A.R.D. system is working excellent ... I can sleep easy."

US Navy C.A.R.D. units were installed on two ships -- the USNS Persistent and USNS Capable -- and tested while on cruise.
Below is an excerpt of the report:

"They were able to detect ships at a range of 24 NM and detected 100% of all vessels observed using 3-cm radar.

Capt. Mallett reports the unit is so reliable that, when operating in fog, the radars were left in standby and only energized when the radar detector alerted, signaling a ship in the area.

Both Capt. Mallett and Second officer Nowaski praise the unit and recommend installation on all MSC ships."

Practical Boat Owner / July 1996
From a published review in the European magazine:
"It's one thing to be roused from your slumber by an alarm, but it's far more useful if it can also tell you whether to look for a ship on your port quarter or your starboard beam.

So how does it work? Anything in a radar's beam momentarily has a high level of microwave energy aimed precisely at it as the scanner rotates. C.A.R.D. detects the signal and produces a shriek loud enough to rouse the deepest sleeper from his bunk, warning of a radar nearby.

The C.A.R.D. uses a simple system. Its antenna consists of part of a wave guide, without the top and bottom reflectors so there's no metal in the way to stop signals being received at any angle of heel.

Each wave guide covers a 90-degree angle, and since each diode is connected to its own lights on the display, you can tell from which quadrant the signal has been received.

I'm sure many sailors, particularly single or short-handers, would sleep more soundly in their bunks if they had a C.A.R.D. scanning the horizon."

From Leroy Stackpole of Lakeland, Florida, in July 1998:
"A C.A.R.D. system is important to me as a backup for regular watch keeping because I sail off the Georgia coast with numerous ships going south inside the Gulfstream. The system has always worked well, frequently detecting ships just as they come up on the horizon and in plenty of time to make any avoidance errors.

The audio alarm, set on high, is enough to wake me in the midst of my hour-long naps at night, which is no mean feat. The extremely low power consumption allows me to keep the unit on all the time so I always have that edge of safety."

CARD FAQ

How do I install the C.A.R.D. system?
Very simple. First, install the receivers no higher than 10 feet. Give it an unobstructed view of the horizon.

Any higher than 10 feet, and you'll be reading ships 20-35 miles away -- ships you'll never see, much less encounter.
Then install the display below decks, at a dry location out of the weather.

How much energy does C.A.R.D. require?
Just .045 amps at 12 volts. Twenty C.A.R.D. systems can run on the current requirement of one cabin light.

Does my radar activate my C.A.R.D.?
Yes. While C.A.R.D. cannot filter out your radar return, put your radar on standby when you're not able to watch it. Let C.A.R.D. be your eyes when you're below decks.

How long is the warranty?
The product has a two year warranty that covers parts and labor.
Representing the current state-of-the-art in semiconductor technology, the C.A.R.D. system is the finest collision avoidance system on the market today. Efficient electronic miniaturization has made this remarkable system possible.