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MCA Small Ships Radar

2 days £450

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This course is designed to give candidates a thorough knowledge of radar when it is being used as a navigation aid and also for collision avoidance.

A student on a Radar Course with You & Sea Maritime training sitting at a desk using the multiple screen Transas & Raymarine simulators.

This course is accepted under MGN 691 as meeting the mandatory training requirements for skippers and navigators operating under Workboat Code 3.

If you hold an ECDIS: Generic certificate, you do not need to complete the Electronic Chart Systems part of the 5 day MCA Small Ships Navigation & Radar course, and should do this 2 day course instead.

    • Types of Radar and differences in use.

    • Using Radar as a ranging device.

    • Use and limitations of radar for bearing measurement.

    • Effect of horizontal bandwidth, particularly on land targets.

    • Use of Sea and ground stabilised modes of operation.

    • Display set up procedures including the use of performance monitoring facilities.

    • Understanding of the heading marker and its alignment.

    • Sea and rain clutter settings.

    • Relative and true motion displays.

    • True and relative trails and vectors.

    • Head-up (unstabilised) and North-up (stabilised) displays.

    • Shadow sectors and blind arcs.

    • False echoes.

    • Plotting as an aid to collision avoidance.

    • Position fixing and radar navigation.

    • Use of parallel indexing techniques.

    • Semi-automatic and automatic plotters

    • Errors associated with automatic plotting aids.

    • How to obtain weather information.

    • Use of weather reports in relation to a proposed passage plan.

    • Actions upon encountering reduced visibility.

    • An appreciation of voyage limitations imposed by reduced visibility.

    • Possible effect of wind on tracks made good.

    • The effect of wind on tides and tidal streams.

    • Local weather anomalies.

    • Effect on sensors/equipment of weather.

  • Candidates for this module are recommended to have completed the Electronic Chart Systems and Bridge Watchkeeping module prior to attendance, have experience working on small vessels, and hold a level of certification that permits commercial operation of small vessels in Area Category of Operation 6 or above.

    • 2 days use of our simulator

    • Notepad/Pen

    • 2 Days of tuition by an experienced instructor

    • Extensive supporting course notes

    • Light refreshments - tea, coffee & biscuits

    Not Included

    • Accommodation

    • Meals

EMPLOYERS - Looking to book a course for an employee? Don’t use the booking links below - please click here, and submit the completed form.

We will book in your employee(s) and send you an invoice direct

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