The Communications Research Laboratory (CRL) of McMaster University, in collaboration with Litton Systems Canada Limited (LSL), is engaged in a program of research to establish the parameters of a new marine radar, designed specifically for improved ice surveillance. The research program has involved a number of field experiments using CRL's IPIX X-band radar. This paper shows examples of the detection performance improvements made possible by using the full radar signal properties of amplitude, phase (Doppler), and polarization, as compared to the current marine radars which use only amplitude. Significant increases in target-to-clutter ratios are possible. Time-frequency plots show the differing Doppler behaviour of ice targets and the sea. Targets and sea clutter are also shown to differ in the Doppler frequency shifts and phase differences between the horizontally and vertically-polarized returns. The paper continues with a description of the experimental and analysis programs to be undertaken in the immediate future, and a discussion of relevant issues such as antenna scanning strategies. A major field experiment is scheduled for spring 1992 at a coastal siet in Newfoundland. The paper concludes with an outline of LSL's plan for developing a commercial prototype. Although the paper is concerned with small ice targets, this new marine radar will provide improved detection of floating targets of all types. Thus, it will be of value for other applications, such as search-and-rescue.