HF Ocean Radars in Ship Navigation

Phased HF ocean radar technology is being widely used for surface current mapping in coastal waters, and the WERA radar produces gridded maps of surface currents and wave heights. These data can be put into existing AIS ship navigation messages to provide Aid to Navigation information to ship's bridges in coastal waters. A case study in the Straits of Malacca shows how this can be achieved within the protocols of the AIS, and demonstrates the way to improved functionality in autonomous shipping.