Lesson 3: Perform Manual Radar Plotting

TIME VECTOR FORMULA

Minutes Rule (to find) Speed and Distance:

6 minute rule 10 minute rule 12 minute rule

S = D X 10 S =DX6 S =DX5
D = S /10 D =S/6 D =S/5

15 minute rule 20 minute rule 30 minute rule

S =DX4 S =DX3 S =DX2
D =S/4 D =S/3 D =S/2

RADAR PLOTTING TECHNIQUES

(Single Target)

1. Own ship is on course 000˚ T with a speed of 20 knots. A contact is observed

as follows:
Time Bearing Range(miles) Ref. Pt.

1200 hrs 033˚ 10.0 r

1206 hrs 031˚ 8.0 m

Required:

1. Direction of Relative Motion (DRM)

2. Closest Point of Approach (CPA)
3. Range of Closest Point of Approach (RCPA)
4. Bearing of CPA (BCPA)
5. Speed of Relative Movement (SRM)
6. Time to CPA “time to elapse” (TCPA)
7. Time at CPA
8. Target True Course (TTC)
9. Target True Speed (TTS)
10. Target Aspect (TAS) at M.

Procedures:
1. Layoff own ship course;
2. Plot 1st radar observation, then mark it r;
3. Plot 2nd radar observation, then mark it m;
4. Connect r to m, to get the RML;
5. Transfer RML to the center to get the DRML in degrees;
6. Draw perpendicular line to DRM to intersect RML, you can get the CPA;

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7. Measure distance from the center to the CPA to get the RCPA;
8. To get BCPA draw a line from the center to the CPA extend beyond;

To get SRM:
9. Measure distance from r to m then multiplied it by 10 (if observation time is 6
minutes) or multiplied it by 5 (if observation time is 12 minutes), the result is SRM;
or
10. Use Logarithmic: Time, Speed and Distance Scale;

To obtain TCPA and Time at CPA:

11. Measure distance from m to CPA;
12. Use distance measured (m to CPA) and SRM to get the value of TCPA; (Use
Logarithmic Time, Speed and Distance Scale)
13. Add the TCPA (minutes) to the time of the last observation of target (m) to get the
Time at CPA;

To Construct Vector Triangle

To determine the Target True Course (TTC):

14. Transfer own ship course to r;
15. Compute distance run by own ship (e-r) using speed and time interval;
16. Measure the computed distance of own ship (e-r) along the transferred course of
own ship;
17. Connect e-m, then transfer that line to the center to get the TTC(True Target
Course);

To determine the Target True Speed (TTS):

18. Measure the distance of line e-m then multiplied it by 10 (if observation time is 6
minutes) or multiplied it by 5 (if observation time is 12 minutes), the result is TTS;
or;
19. Use logarithmic scale to get the TTS (true target speed) using the distance of e-m
and time interval;

To determine the Target Aspect (TAS) at m:

20. Connect and draw a line from m to the center and beyond to get the reciprocal
bearing of m;
21. Get the difference between the angle of TTC and R/B of LOS at m;
22. Name it RED if the target is seen on the port side and GREEN on the starboard
side;

To determine the Target Aspect (TAS) at CPA:

23. Connect and draw a line from CPA to the center and beyond to get the reciprocal
bearing of CPA;
24. Get the difference between the angle of TTC and R/B of LOS at CPA result is the
TAS at CPA;

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2. Your ship is on course 225° with a speed of 12.5 knots. Your radar is set on the 12-mile
scale, a contact is observed as follows:
Time Bearing Range(miles) Ref. Pt.

1230 hrs 321˚ 9.2 r

1242 hrs 300˚ 4.0 m

Required:
1. Direction of Relative Motion (DRM)
2. Closest Point of Approach (CPA)
3. Range of Closest Point of Approach (RCPA)
4. Bearing of CPA (BCPA)
5. Speed of Relative Movement (SRM)
6. Time to CPA “time to elapse” (TCPA)
7. Time at CPA
8. Target True Course (TTC)
9. Target True Speed (TTS)
10. Target Aspect (TAS) at M.
11. Target Aspect (TAS) at CPA

3. Your own ship is steering 320˚ T at a speed of 18 knots. Echoes are observed as follows:

Time Bearing Range(miles) Ref. Pt.

1552 hrs 350˚ (T) 10.0 r

1604 hrs 350˚ (T) 8.0 m

Required:
1. Direction of Relative Motion (DRM)
2. Closest Point of Approach (CPA)
3. Range of Closest Point of Approach (RCPA)
4. Bearing of CPA (BCPA)
5. Speed of Relative Movement (SRM)
6. Time to CPA “time to elapse” (TCPA)
7. Time at CPA
8. Target True Course (TTC)
9. Target True Speed (TTS)
10. Target Aspect (TAS) at M.
11. Target Aspect (TAS) at CPA

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The Plot When Own Ship Manoeuvres
When it is decided (after assessment of the initial plot) that it is necessary for own
ship to manoeuvre, it is essential to determine the effect of that manoeuvre prior to its
execution and to ensure that it will result in a safe passing distance. After the manoeuvre
has been completed, plotting must be continued to ensure that the manoeuvre is having the
desired effect.

The plot when own ship alters course only

Because of the time taken for a change in speed to have effect on the apparent
motion line, the mariner will frequently select a change in course it will achieve a satisfactory
passing distance, this has some distinct advantages:
1. It is quick to take effect.
2. The vessel retains steerage way.
3. The encounter may be more quickly cleared
4. It is more likely to be detected if the other vessel is plotting.
5. It complies with the spirit of rule 8c of COLREG.

Plotting Problems:
1. Own ship on course 000˚ T and its speed is 15.0 knots. At the times shown below, a
radar contact was observed on the following bearings and the listed ranges:

Time Bearing Range Ref. Pt.

0005 hrs 029.5° 10.00 nm r

0011 hrs 028.0° 6.55 nm m

Option: When the target closes in at 5.0 n. m., alter own ship course 30° to starboard and
record the time of execution and bearing of the target. When own ship had reached her
desired course, take a record of the time, bearing and range of the target.
Assuming the following are the radar observations taken.

Time Bearing Range Ref. Pt.

0013 hrs 026.0° 5.00 nm mx

0015 hrs 022.0° 3.70 nm mx1

Required:

1. Closest point of approach (CPA)

2. Time to closest point of approach (TCPA)
3. New closest point of approach (NCPA)
4. New time to closest point of approach (NTCPA)

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Procedures:
1. Lay-off own ship course;
2. Plot 1st radar observation (bearing and range of target) mark it r;
3. Plot 2nd radar observation (bearing and range of target) mark it m;
4. Connect 1st and 2nd observation to get RML;
5. Draw perpendicular line to RML to get the CPA;
6. Measure distance from the center to the CPA to get the RCPA;
7. Measure distance from r to m and use time interval to get SRM;
8. Measure distance from m to CPA then use SRM to get TCPA (using Logarithmic
scale);
9. Add the TCPA to the time at m to get time at CPA

To construct a vector triangle:

10. Transfer own ship course to r.
11. Compute distance run by own ship given the speed;
12. Measure the computed distance along the transferred course of own ship to get
e;
13. Connect e to m to get target true course and speed vector (e-m);

To plot the required NCPA/NTCPA:

14. Plot 3rd radar observation (bearing and range) mark it mx (point of execution);
15. Plot 4th radar observation (bearing and range) mark it mx1 (reached the desired
course);
16. Compute the intended new course of ownship after alteration;
17. Locate New Course on the bearing scale;
18. Put one end of the divider on e and r, then scribe an arc to the direction of
alteration of course of own ship (to starboard or port);
19. Transfer the New Course to e, intersection of the arc and new course is marked
r1;
20. Connect r1 to m;
21. Measure distance r1 to m;
22. Compute NSRM using the distance measured and time interval;
23. Transfer NRML(line r1 – m) to mx1;
24. Draw perpendicular line to the NRML to locate NCPA;
25. Measure distance from the center to the NCPA to get NRCPA;
26. Measure distance from mx1 to NCPA;
27. Compute NTCPA (minutes) using the computed NSRM and the measured
distance of mx1 and NCPA;
28. Add the time of NTCPA to the time of mx1 to get time at NCPA.

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2. Own ship on course 050˚T and its speed is 19.4 knots. At the times shown below, a
radar contact was observed on the following bearings and the listed ranges:
Time Bearing Range Ref. Pt.

1205 hrs 071.5° 10.00 nm r

1211 hrs 070.5° 7.00 nm m

Option: When the target closes in at 4.5 n. m., alter own ship course 25° to
starboard and record the time of execution and bearing of the target. When own ship had
reached her desired course, take a record of the time, bearing and range of the target.
Assuming the following are the radar observations taken.

Time Bearing Range Ref. Pt.

1215 hrs 069.0° 4.50 nm mx

1217 hrs 066.0° 3.50 nm mx1

Required:

1. Closest point of approach (CPA)

2. Time to closest point of approach (TCPA)
3. New closest point of approach (NCPA)
4. New time to closest point of approach (NTCPA)