[en] The acronym radar "Radio Detecting and Ranging" refers to equipment found in almost the entire global maritime fleet, considered by many as the greatest aid to navigation. Its operation is based on technology that, through electromagnetic waves, allows us to detect and locate objects at a distance. In this work, we will begin by exploring the origins of radar, starting from the early steps in the study of waves, which would later lead to the Daventry experiment in 1935, where for the first time an airplane was detected using radio waves. We will continue with the significant and rapid advances that radar experienced during World War II, driven by the obvious strategic advantages that this equipment provided on the battlefield. After the war, we will focus on the technological advancements that accompanied this equipment, with the most relevant being the ARPA system "Automatic Radar Plotting Aid." Next, we will discuss the regulations designed by the IMO "International Maritime Organization," which govern the technical characteristics that radar and ARPA must have depending on the tonnage of the ship and its intended use. We will also detail the knowledge that operators must possess according to the STCW "Standards of Training, Certification, and Watchkeeping" regulations. This international standard establishes the minimum requirements for the training, certification, and working conditions of seafarers, aiming to ensure safety in navigation and protect human life at sea. Once the above is understood, we will describe its operation, based on the emission of electromagnetic pulses. To do this, we will explain what these pulses are and how they move through space. This will allow us to optimize the use of the equipment and understand its limitations, while also understanding the advantages and disadvantages of an X-band radar versus an S-band radar. Subsequently, we will discuss the integration of radar with the ship's sensors, along with the most relevant functionalities of the equipment. In this way, we will be able to interpret all the information provided by the radar with good judgment, which is essential in critical situations, where reaction time and familiarity with the equipment play a very significant role

[gl] O acrónimo radar "Radio Detecting And Ranging" fai referencia a un equipo presente na práctica totalidade da flota mariña mundial, considerado por moitos como a maior axuda á navegación. O seu funcionamento baséase en tecnoloxía que, a través de ondas electromagnéticas, nos permite detectar e localizar obxectos a distancia. Neste traballo comezaremos desgranando os orixes do radar, desde os primeiros pasos no estudo das ondas, que posteriormente desembocarían no experimento Daventry en 1935, onde por primeira vez se detectou un avión utilizando ondas de radio. Continuaremos cos avances significativos e vertixinosos que experimentou o radar na II Guerra Mundial, froito das evidentes vantaxes estratéxicas que supoñía este equipo no campo de batalla. Despois do paso da guerra, centrarémonos nos avances tecnolóxicos que acompañaron a este equipo, o de maior relevancia é o sistema ARPA "Automatic Radar Plotting Aid" (en galego, Sistema Automático de Ploteo de obxectivos). A continuación, falaremos da normativa deseñada pola OMI "International Maritime Organization", que regula as características técnicas que debe ter o radar e ARPA en función do tonelaxe do barco e do uso para o que estea destinado. Así mesmo, detallaremos os coñecementos que deben posuír os seus operadores de acordo coa normativa STCW "Standards of Training, Certification, and Watchkeeping". Esta normativa internacional establece os requisitos mínimos para a formación, certificación e condicións de traballo dos mariños, co fin de garantir a seguridade na navegación e protexer a vida humana no mar. Unha vez comprendido o anterior, pasaremos a describir o seu funcionamento, baseado na emisión de pulsos electromagnéticos. Para isto, explicaremos que son e como se desprazan estes pulsos no espazo. Isto permitirá optimizar o manexo do equipo e coñecer as súas limitacións, ao tempo que coñecemos as vantaxes e desvantaxes dun radar de banda X fronte a un radar de banda S. Posteriormente, falaremos da integración do radar cos sensores do barco, xunto coas funcionalidades máis relevantes do equipo. Deste xeito poderemos interpretar con bo criterio toda a información que nos facilita o radar, algo esencial en situacións críticas, onde o tempo de reacción e a familiarización co equipo xogarán un papel moi relevante.