200052 How Many Radars Do You Need?

How Many Radars Do You Need?
Report No. 200052

I would like to comment on MARS 200021 - Why give way to the navy? Points to note - "He only had one of two radar scanners rotating". So what? I am reminded of the occasion when I happened to walk onto the bridge one bright, clear afternoon when we were mid Indian Ocean to hear the (middle eastern) second mate calling a passing Chinese container ship and severely reprimanding him for the fact that both his radars were 'off'. Gone are the days when Masters would padlock the radar 'off' as soon as land dipped below the horizon but there certainly seems to be a belief these days that all radars must always be running, regardless of conditions outside.