Dead zone

nounShop talkMaritime

An area around a vessel where radar or communication signals cannot reach.

A blind spot immediately surrounding a ship where the radar beam overshoots the surface, or where the ship's own superstructure blocks the signal. Small craft hiding in this sector will not appear on the bridge displays, making it a critical hazard during close-quarters maneuvering.

Heard on the job

We lost the pilot boat in the dead zone off the starboard bow.

Also heard as

  • blind sector