COLLISION PREVENTION SUPPORT DEVICE FOR VESSEL

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enhance the accuracy of identifying a target vessel by a vessel collision prevention support device for capturing and tracking, from echo signals from a radar transceiver mounted in a vessel, a target such as another vessel which is approaching the former vessel. SOLUTION: A target position detecting part 30 detects echo signals from a target vessel, and a target position estimating part 38 calculates an estimated value of the target position and its dispersion in the next scan from the previous position of the target vessel. A target size estimating part 39 calculates an estimated value of the target area and its dispersion in the next scan from the previous area of the target vessel. A certitude calculating part calculates the certitude of the target from the estimated value of the target position, its dispersion, and the estimated value of the target area and its dispersion, and the newest estimated position of the target is calculated on the basis of the certitude of the target. In this case, the certitude of the target is calculated using information about the size (area) of the target in addition to the position of the target so as to enhance the accuracy of identifying the target and that of tracking it.