NAVIGATION TRAINING

Radar
 Radar

Radar - How It Works

Radar

Radar is an abbreviation for

Radio Detection and Ranging
Note: the radar is best at
measuring range and that is
always where its strength lies
 Radar
How does it Work
The radar transmits out a short pulse of electromagnetic radiation.
Any object it encounters reflects that radiation, and a percentage of
that energy is reflected back towards the antenna

The measurement of the time that that pulse takes to travel out
and return to the scanner is directly proportional to the range of the
object that reflected the pulse
 Radar
How does it Work
The better the reflection back the
better the target
Echo returning pulse
Targets images resulting from
echoes
 Radar and use it!
Radar Horizon
Radar can only see as far as the radar horizon, very slightly further
than the visual horizon
Objects (targets) beyond the curve of the earth of the radar sight
line remain out of view
 Radar
Radar Horizon

The radar horizon is very slightly further than the visual horizon
Range improves with height of scanner
 Radar
Most small vessels use range of 3 nautical miles or less
Produces fuzzy or granulated images, based on the
radar waves that get reflected back - no reflection - no
trace on the display
Images on a radar screen do not precisely correspond
with the size and shape of scanned objects
Origin of the radar trace is the radar scanner of your
vessel
 Radar

Radar Range
The range of the display is the distance from the centre of the screen
to the top in nautical miles
The ranges available include 0.75 nm, 1.5 nm, 3 nm, 6 nm, 12 nm
 Radar
Radar Range

3 nm
 Radar

Heads Up vs North Up
Most RCM-SAR vessels do not have an accurate compass feed such
as a gyro compass.
Therefore it is strongly recommended that the radar display is
always set on Head Up mode
What is seen on the top of the radar is what is ahead
Bearings seen are relative to own vessels bow
Heads Up v North Up
 Radar

Heads Up vs North Up
 Radar

Variable Range Marker (VRM)

The Variable Range Marker is using radars greatest accuracy - the

measurement of range
The VRM is moved in or out, but measures most accurately when
the outside of the VRM line touches the closest point of a target
 Radar

Variable Range Marker (VRM)

 Radar

Variable Range Marker (VRM)

If the object is beyond the radar horizon, such as a
sloping foreshore there will be inaccuracies
If you are travelling fast towards or directly away from
the object you are ranging off, inaccuracies will be present
Ranges on the beam will be more accurate
 Radar

Electronic Bearing Line (EBL)

The electronic bearing line (EBL) is a radial line extending from the
origin (own ship) that can be set to any bearing
It can be used for ascertaining the relative bearing of a target.
When at speed, it has the greatest accuracy ahead and astern, and
prone to the greatest errors on the beam
 Radar

Electronic Bearing Line (EBL)

 Radar

Range Rings

Range rings are equally spaced concentric circles

The distance between rings will generally be indicated as part of
the range, e.g. 3 nautical miles range, 0.5 nautical miles between
rings
They are used to quickly estimate the distance off of an echo
 Radar

Range Rings
 Radar
Collision Avoidance
 Radar

Relative Motion
When your vessel is moving, the image of the radar screen will be
constantly changing as you move relative to the land and other
vessels
Other vessels direction and speed are relative to your own course
and speed
Objects that stand still on the radar screen are other vessels that
match your speed and direction
 Radar

Relative Motion
Only when you are stopped will you be able to accurately
determine another vessels true course and speed
 Radar
Risk of Collision

Use the electronic bearing line (EBL) to place over the target on
the screen
If your vessels keep its course and speed, and the target comes
down the EBL a risk of collision exists
The quicker a target come down the EBL, the sooner a close
quarter situation will be
 Radar
Risk of Collision
 Radar
Risk of Collision

Therefore with this in mind, focus only on target movement that

represents a risk of collision
 Radar

Collision Avoidance

Once a risk of collision is deemed to exist, the Collision Regulations

then require you to understand whether you are the stand on or
give way vessel, given the prevailing condition of visibility, AND
other factors
These actions are not defined here.
 Radar
Effect of Change of Own Vessel Course and Speed

On a heads up display:
When your vessel turns, all of the objects on the display will rotate
relative to you and will appear to move in the opposite direction
When your vessel changes speed,other boats will acquire a new
motion relative to you.
If another boat changes direction or speed, the display will not
change, only the relative motion of that boat
 Radar
Guard Zone
The VRM can also be used to set up
a guard zone as an area around ones
own vessel into which we do not want
another vessel to come
 Radar
Radar Navigation

The biggest skill with radar is to match what you see on the radar
display with regards land and navigational aid targets, to that which
is to be found on a navigational chart
 Radar
Radar Navigation
 Radar
Radar Navigation
 Radar
Radar Navigation

Navigational aids such as navigation buoys, and marks are often

fitted with radar reflectors in order to make them more conspicuous
In certain cases important navigation buoys or mark will be fitted
with Racons. These may encoded in morse code to identify them
 Radar
Radar Navigation

Racon (B)
 Radar
Radar Navigation

Plotting by range alone can be used for sections of shoreline

where you can clearly measure the range and then draw an arc at
that radius
 Radar
Radar Navigation
An unstabilised radar is best used
when using three ranges to fix your
position.
 Radar
Radar Navigation

Radar is providing first hand information and does not

rely on outside electronics to work properly
 Radar
Radar Navigation
When plotting bearings from an
unstabilised radar, use the formula MB =
RB + MH

MB = magnetic bearing
RB = relative bearing
MB = magnetic heading
 Radar
Radar Navigation

Where no other fixing method is off a radar is possible,

plotting a range and bearing of a fixed isolated object can
be used.
Navigation buoys are not considered fixed objects
 Radar

Radar Navigation

Radar can help you safely navigate along shorelines, and help stay
a standard distance off during a shoreline search
Set the VRM at the minimum safe distance of approach
 Radar
Radar Navigation
 Radar
Radar Navigation with GPS
Radar navigation is complimented by the appropriate use of the
Geographic Positioning System (GPS)
Radar and a GPS can communicate using the NMEA 0183 protocol
This is best achieved through the side by side displays on a chart
plotter, where the radar picture can be easily compared with the
electronic chart
 Radar
Radar Navigation with GPS
 Radar
Radar Reflectivity
The strength of echoes are dependent on two features:

1. Material reflectivity to radar signals

Metal and sheer rock races are good
Wood and foliage are poor
 Radar
Radar Reflectivity
2. Aspect angle to the radar
Verticals are generally good
The greater the angle from the vertical, the poorer the signal
are poor
 Radar

Errors
False echoes are possible with radar
Almost all are connected with reflected signals
 Radar
Errors
Side Lobe effect
When a large vessel is close the
side lobes of the radar
transmission can cause some
interference as shown
 Radar
Errors
Reflection from an overhead cable
The result from this is the echo gets returned off the cable.
As own vessel gets closer to the cable, the target appears to also
get closer, to be on a collision course with position of collision where
own vessel goes under the actual cable.
 Radar
Weather & Radar
The effect of rain can be reduced by the use of rain clutter, FTC or
Rain controls
The effect of sea and swell waves can be reduced by use of sea
clutter or STC
Excessive use of these controls can mask echoes
Practice of the use of these controls is important to achieve the
appropriate level of masking for both STC and FTC
 Radar
Weather & Radar

Squall lines and rain can be seen on

radar
 Radar
Weather & Radar
Wind and swell waves can be
seen on radar, as can tide lines on
occasion