RADAR PLOTTING

A brief by Lance Grindley

 Grunt Productions 2007

 Crossing Situation

 Grunt Productions 2007

Own vessel 000° at 10 knots
6 minute plot

(1) Find the course you are

going, and draw a line for
your course
In the case of heads up ,
mark 000°

 Grunt Productions 2007

 Own vessel 000° at 10 knots
6 minute plot 12:00 O

(2) Mark the first radar

bearing and range of the
target.
045º R x 2.4 nautical miles.
All bearings are R as they
are relative to your vessel’s
head.
Mark as "O“
Mark time of 1200

 Grunt Productions 2007

Own vessel 000° at 10 knots
6 minute plot 12:00 O

(3) After 6 minutes mark the

second radar bearing and 12:06 A

range of the target.

044ºR x 1.00 nautical miles
Mark as “A”
Mark time of 1206

 Grunt Productions 2007

Own vessel 000° at 10 knots
6 minute plot 12:00 O

(4) From "O" draw a line

through "A" and carry the line 12:06 A
well past the centre line on the
screen

 Grunt Productions 2007

Own vessel 000° at 10 knots
6 minute plot 12:00 O

(5) Transfer your course line

to "O" and pull the line down 12:06 A
the sheet

 Grunt Productions 2007

Own vessel 000° at 10 knots
6 minute plot 12:00 O

(6a) Calculate own vessel

distance in plot interval. 12:06 A

To use calculator scale, place

right point of divider on 60
(right end of scale) and left
point on own vessel speed
(10 knots).

 Grunt Productions 2007

Own vessel 000° at 10 knots
6 minute plot 12:00 O

(6b) Move the dividers at this

setting, and place right point 12:06 A

on the plot interval (6

minutes)
The number under the left
point of the dividers will
indicate the distance gone in
the plot interval. (1 nautical
mile).
6 min @ 10 knots = 1.0nm.

 Grunt Productions 2007

Own vessel 000° at 10 knots
6 minute plot 12:00 O

(6c) Lay down 1 nautical mile

on the plot,on own course 12:06 A
W
vector from “O”.
Mark bottom end “W”

 Grunt Productions 2007

Own vessel 000° at 10 knots
6 minute plot 12:00 O

(7a) Connect “W” with “A”.

“W” to “A” represents target 12:06 A
W
course and distance traveled
in the plot interval.
267°R @1.00 nautical miles
To convert this into speed,
place right point of dividers on
plot interval (6 minutes) and
the left point on distance
travelled in that time (1.00
nm)
 Grunt Productions 2007
Own vessel 000° at 10 knots
6 minute plot 12:00 O

(7b) Move dividers so that

right point is on 60 (right hand 12:06 A
W
end of scale).
The reading under the left
point of the dividers will be the
vessel’s speed in knots.
10.0 knots

 Grunt Productions 2007

 Own vessel 000° at 10 knots
6 minute plot 12:00 O

(8) Where the line

through “O” and “A” 12:06 A
passes closest to the W

centre of the plot is the CPA

Closest Point of
Approach (CPA)
In this case 0.0 nautical
mile

 Grunt Productions 2007

Own vessel 000° at 10 knots
6 minute plot
12:00 O

(9) The Time to Closest

point of Approach (TCPA) 12:06 A
is at the tangent point. OA W

is 6 minutes. TCPA

A to TCPA works out at 3.8

minutes = 12:09:48

 Grunt Productions 2007

 Results
In this case, providing neither you nor the
target vessel alter course or speed:
 the target vessel is proceeding at 000° +

267° = 267°C at 10.0 knots

 CPA is at 12:09:48 at a with a collision.

 Grunt Productions 2007

 Results – Clear Visibility
 In clear visibility, you are in a crossing
situation with other vessel on your
starboard side, and therefore you are the
give way vessel.
 There is risk of collision. You MUST take
action which should involve a bold
alteration to starboard, and/or a reduction
in speed, until the other vessel is past and
clear.

 Grunt Productions 2007

 Crossing Situation
 If however at 1206 you acknowledge the
other vessel is on a steady bearing, you
can stop and assess the situation.
 The plot will then change to:

 Grunt Productions 2007

Own vessel 000° at 10 knots
6 minute plot 12:00 O

The other vessel’s plot will

then move across in front of 12:06 A

you, resolving the situation.

You have made a substantial
alteration in speed which will
be readily visible to him,
whether he is observing you
visually or by radar.

You can see immediately he is

doing 267°C at 10 knots
 Grunt Productions 2007