The Merchant Shipping
(Examination of Masters and Mates) Rules, 1985
APPENDIX
"B"
[See rule 12(1)(c)]
RADAR OBSERVER COURSE
SYLLABUS FOR COURSE AND EXAMINATION
Theory.
(i) The radar
set
Elementary understanding of the
principles of radar; how range is determined by measurement of elapsed time
between transmission and reception of pulsos, how
bearing is obtained by directional transmission and reception Characteristics
of the radar set; minimum range, range discrimination; bearing discrimination,
transmitter power and, of other characteristics of the set which determine the
quality of the radar disply.
The radar acrial; horizontal and vertical beamwidths,
polar diagram of the beam, effects of fall in power from the maximum towards
the boundary of the main beam, the effect of power radiated in directions
outside the main beam.
Non technical description of the
radar set with emphasis on the PPI type of display and its associated range and
bearing measuring systems. The heading marker.
Performance monitors. Descriptions of variations in
the features encountered in difference types of radar set.
Operational
controls; functions and effects; inter relationship of the effect of adjusting
various controls.
A knowledge
of those factors which effect maximum detection range and accuracy of
information.
Matine radar performance
specification.
(ii) The radar display
A
descriptive treatment of the various types of radar display; the basic
ship's head up relative motion display,
the stabilized relative motion display-ship's head up and North up, true motion
display and, of other types.
The effects
of errors on the accuracy of information displayed; effects of transmitting
compass errors on stabilized and true motion display, effects of transmitting
log errors on a true motion display, effects of inaccurate speed settings on a
true motion display.
Methods of detecting inaccurate speed settings on true motion
controls. Effects
of receiver noise; limiting ability to display weak echo returns, effects of
saturation by receiver noise, etc.
Adjustments of operational controls; criteria which
indicate optimum points of adjustment importance of proper sequence etc. Effects of maladjusted
controls detection of maladjustments and correction.
(a)
Controls
affecting detection ranges.
(b)
controls affecting accuracy.
Dangers of using radar equipment with maladjusted controls. Methods of measuring
ranges; linear scale, fixed range markers, variable range marker. Accuracy of each method and
the relative accuracy of the different methods. How range date is
displayed; ranges at stated intervals, digital counter, graduated scale etc.
Methods of measuring bearings; rotatable cursor on
transparent disc covering the display, electronic bearing cursor and other methods. Bearing accuracy.
Inaccuracies
due to : parallax, heading marker displacement, center
maladjustment.
How bearing
date is displayed; graduated scale, digital counter etc. Need for regular checking of the accuracy of
ranges and bearing, methods of checking for inaccuracies and correcting or
allowing for inaccuracies.
Need for
frequent regular checking of performance, relationship of performance indicator
to range performance of the radar set.
(iii) Effects of siting,
etc.
Effects of the situation
of the radar aerial in relation to funnel, masts, superstructure, etc.; shadow
sectors and ares of reduced sensitivity, false echoes
due to reflections from superstructure, effects of aerial height in detection
ranges , etc. Effects
of siting radar units and storing apares
near magnetic compasses; magnetic safe distances and connected safe distance.
Radiation
hazards; precautions to be taken in the vicinity of aerials and open
waveguides.
Safety precautions when
in the vicinity of open equipment where there are very high electric
potentials.
(iv) Factors which influence interpretation
A clear and full
appreciation of the limitations to target detection is essential to enable the
observer to estimate the dangers of failure to detect targets. The following factors should be emphasized.
(a)
performance
standard of the equipment;
(b)
brilliance
and gain control settings;
(c)
radar
horizon;
(d)
size,
shape, aspect and composition of targets;
(e)
propagation
conditions;
(f)
meteorological
conditions, sea clutter and rain clutter;
(g)
anti-clutter
control settings;
(h)
shadow sectors.
Factors which might lead to faulty
interpretation: false echoes, effects of nearby pylons and large structures,
effects of power lines crossing rivers and estuaries, echoes from distant largets occurring on second or later traces.
Aids to
interpretations; corner reflectors, recons, remarks etc.
Detection and recognition of land targets; the effects of
topographical features, effects of pulse length and beanwidth.
Radar conspicuous and inconspicuous targets; factors which affect
the echo strength from targets.
(v) Factors
influencing appreciation:
Detection
of movement of targets :
(a) on a relative
motion display; effects of own ship's movements, effects of target's movements;
advantages of compass stabilization of a relative display;
(b) on a true
motion display;
(c) effects of
inaccuracies; of speed and course sttings on a true
motion display, of compass stabilization date driving a stabilized relative
motion display;
(d) afterglow trails
and what they represent; on a relative motion display, on a true motion
display; accuracy of indications of afterglow trails.
Relationship between visual and radar observations; detail,
accuracy of estimates of course and speed of targets etc. Detection of changes in movements of targets;
(e) effects of
changes in course and/or speed by own ship on the track of target on the
display;
(f) effects of
changes of course and/or speed by target on its track across the display;
(g) delay between
change of course and/or speed and detection of that change;
(h) effects of
small changes as compared with substantial changes of course and/or speed on
rate accuracy of detection.
The importance of frequent, regular observations. Relationship of speed of
frequency of observation.
(vi) Use of
radar in clear weather :
The radar should be
used in clear weather to obtain an appreciation of its capabilities and
limitations, to compare radar and visual observations and obtain an assessment
of the relative accuracy of information.
The need
for early use of radar in clear weather at night and when there are indications
that visibility may deteriorate.
Comparison of features displayed by radar with charted features.
Comparison
of the effects of differences between range scales.
(vii) Use of
radar for navigation and collision avoidance;
Position-fixing by radar from land targets and sea marks.
Accuracy of position-fixing; by range, by bearings.
Importance of cross-checking accuracy of radar and other navigational
aids. Value of using all aids available to available to avoid blunders
and unexpected large errors.
The value of
recording ranges and bearings at regular frequent intervals when using radar as
an aid to collision avoidance.
Use of date
recorded to obtain :
(a) measurement of
nearest approach distance and bearing.
(b) time and
distance to nearest approach of crossing meeting or overtaking ships;
(c) courses and
speeds of targets and detection of changes made therein;
(d) indication of
rate and direction of tidal stream.
(e) identification
of critical echoes.
The
different methods by which information can be obtained from recorded ranges and
bearings of targets;
(i) unstabilised relative plot;
(ii) stabilized
relative plot; and
(iii) true plot.
Mechanical
aids to obtaining information; RAS plotter and similar types, automatic
relative plot, photographs plotter, etc.
The reflection plotter; as an aid to obtaining information about
targets' movements and aid to avoiding coservational
blunders.
Relationship of the regulations for preventing collisions at sea to
the use of radar.
Action to
avoid collision,; dangers of assumptions made on
inadequate information and the hazards of small alterations of course and/or
speed. The advantages
of safe speed when using radar to avoid collision. The relationship of speed
to nearest approach distance and time and to the manoveuring
characteristics of various types of vessels.
The importance of radar observation reports being well defined;
radar reporting procedures.
2. official
publication.---Candidates will be required to have knowledge of official
publications which are related to the use of radar including the following :
(i) the
regulations for the prevention of collisions at sea.
(ii) reports of
accident inquiries which mention the use of radar.
(iii) official
publications having relevance to the use of radar
3. Practical
(i) Adjustment of controls.—Practical
adjustment of operational controls, checking that controls are adjusted to their
optimum setting, recognition
(ii) Performance checks.Use
of performance monitor, frequency of checks.
(iii) Extracting information-Reading ranges
and boarings minimizing observational errors and
blunders.
(iv) Checking accuracy and correcting errors.---Checking accuracy of ranges; fixed range markers and
variable range markers. Relative accuracy of fixed and variable markers. Checking accuracy of
bearings. Adjustments
necessary to ensure bearing accuracy.
Comparing relative accuracy of bearings by mechanical
and electronic bearing cursors. Checking heading marker accuracy
recommended method of heading marker accuracy checks.
(v) Extracting navigational information from ranges and bearings.--By using reflection plotter by transfer plot. Comparison of relative accuracy.