The tug Vinicio was refitted with Raymarine Pathfinder radar, enhancing safety, situational awareness, and reliability for demanding Mediterranean towing operations through ease of installation and advanced solid-state radar technology.
Monday - 20 April 2026
Refitting older working vessels with modern navigation technology can extend operational life and improve safety, at a fraction of the cost of purchasing a new vessel. This approach was taken aboard Vinicio, a tug operating throughout the Mediterranean Sea, where a recent refit introduced advanced marine radar in the form of the Raymarine Pathfinder to support demanding towing operations.
By choosing a modern commercial marine radar solution as an upgrade, the owners of Vinicio were able to bring the tug’s navigation capabilities in line with current standards. This radar upgrade allowed the vessel to benefit from the latest systems technology without the cost and downtime associated with acquiring a new tug.
Delivered in Genoa by Generalmarine SRL, the project focused on improving situational awareness and reliability while keeping installation and maintenance simple for an established tugboat platform. Selecting the right radar was central to meeting these operational requirements.
Vinicio routinely operates with a barge in tow across busy Mediterranean waters. In this role, constant awareness of surrounding traffic and the position of the barge is essential, particularly during navigation in congested areas and restricted visibility. The systems performance is therefore critical to safe and confident operations, making a dependable marine radar system indispensable for the crew.
Generalmarine selected Pathfinder radar as the primary situational awareness tool on board. The decision was driven by the advantages of solid-state radar technology, including reduced service requirements and increased vessel availability – key considerations for a tug engaged in regular commercial activity. Compared with older magnetron-based systems, the solid-state radar design offers greater reliability and consistency in performance.
This choice of commercial marine radar also represented a strategic upgrade, replacing legacy equipment with a modern Pathfinder radar platform that is easier to maintain and operate. For operators like Vinicio, such a radar upgrade directly supports safer and more efficient operations.
Installation was also simplified through Pathfinder’s lighter antenna design and smaller-diameter cabling, making it well suited to a refit on an older vessel. The compact form factor of the Pathfinder radar allowed technicians to integrate the new system with minimal structural changes, reducing downtime and installation complexity.
Display size options allowed the system to integrate cleanly into the existing bridge layout, delivering clear radar information without unnecessary complexity. The flexibility of the Pathfinder displays made it easier to position key controls and data where the crew needed them most, ensuring that the upgraded radar systems enhanced rather than disrupted established bridge workflows.
During towing operations, Pathfinder supports continuous monitoring of surrounding vessels as well as the barge itself, enhancing visibility and control. The Pathfinder Radar has full IMO approval, further ensuring the system meets the demands of professional mariners and complies with the standards expected of modern commercial marine radar installations.
In practice, this modern solid-state radar system improves target detection, tracking, and clarity, particularly in busy shipping lanes and during adverse weather. For a tug like Vinicio, whose work often takes place in confined harbors and crowded approaches, this level of performance is essential to maintaining safe separation and precise control of the tow.
The Pathfinder installation aboard Vinicio highlights how blending proven vessels with modern radar technology can enhance awareness, support safer towing operations, and extend the working life of established tugs. By investing in a carefully planned upgrade based on solid-state radar, operators can significantly improve safety and reliability without replacing the vessel itself.
This case demonstrates that equipping older tugs with up-to-date systems, such as the Pathfinder radar, offers a cost-effective path to modernization. For many working vessels operating in the Mediterranean and beyond, upgrading to a modern marine radar platform delivers long-term value through improved situational awareness, reduced maintenance, and increased operational readiness.
