ASA 120, Radar Endorsement

Able to properly use small-craft radar (or radar simulator) for piloting, navigation, and collision avoidance. Knowledge of radar principles and practical matters of radar operation.

Prerequisites	ASA 105, Coastal Navigation and the ability to demonstrate competencies in all knowledge and skills elements of that Standard.
Study Materials	Radar for Mariners by David Burch (McGraw Hill, 2013) USCG Navigation Rules & Regulations Handbook

KNOWLEDGE

1. Describe the principles of radar and how it works, including:

Overview of system components
Microwave pulse and beam structure
Radar target characteristics
Range of detection, scanner design, and mounting options
Power requirements
Radiation safety near radar scanners

2. Demonstrate basic radar operation, including:

Power on, warm up, and initial adjustments
Gain adjustments
Use of anti-clutter controls for rain (FTC) and sea state (STC)
Pros and cons of optional display modes: Head-up, North-up, and Course-up
Optimizing pulse-length selection
Measuring target range and bearing with VRM, EBL, and cursor mode
Use of guard sectors and alarms
Optimizing radar picture for specific observations

3. Interpret the radar screen, including:

Optimizing radar picture for specific observations
Radar shadows
Effect of horizontal beam width on target images
Effect of pulse length on target images
Identifying interference and other unwanted echoes

4. Demonstrate the use of radar for piloting a vessel, including:

Use of radar to hold a desired course
Use of electronic range and bearing line (ERBL)
Finding and keeping track of position relative to prominent landmarks
Identifying distant harbors or channels
Rounding a corner at a safe distance off the shore
Anchoring with radar

5. Demonstrate radar position navigation, including:

Coordinating electronic chart displays with the radar screen
Quick radar range and bearing confirmation of GPS positions
Accurate multi-range fixes using radar

6. Demonstrate how to use radar for assisting with collision avoidance, including:

Use and value of target trails and wakes
Tracking targets with EBL and VRM
Estimating time, range and bearing to closest point of approach (CPA)
Figuring true course and speed of approaching targets (relative motion diagram)
Determining expected running lights based on radar observations
Rules of thumb for radar maneuvering
Radar reflectors
Overview of ARPA and AIS

7. Describe and demonstrate the use of radar in conjunction with the USCG Navigation Rules and Regulations Handbook, including:

Role of radar in evaluating collision risk
Cautions (limitations) for radar use
Requirements for checking various ranges and adjustments
Application of Rule 19(d) — when detecting a converging target by radar alone

ASA Certified Sailing Schools

There are 19 ASA Certified Sailing Schools that teach ASA 120, Radar Endorsement

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The American Maritime Academy was established in 2006 to provide a maritime educational program that is both in-depth and accessible to the average mariner whose aspirations revolve around power-boat and sailboat handling. Our strategic uniqueness in the Middle-East stems from the lack of comparable establishments, which cater to the booming yachting industry in the twelve Arab countries of the region.