The Radar Simulator and Collision Avoidance at Sea

Extract

In order to provide facilities ashore for obtaining experience in the use of radar in conditions approximating to those at sea, a marine radar simulator has been developed by the Ministry of Transport as an aid to training. In this way, ships’ officers can obtain experience, particularly in the avoidance of collision, which could rarely be obtained at sea without endangering the ship. The instrument shows synthetic target echoes on a standard marine radar display and the effects of their movements and manœuvres. Helm and engine controls are provided to allow the observer to manœuvre as he thinks fit to avoid collision.

In this paper the Professional Officer and Chief Nautical Surveyor of the Ministry of Transport describes the simulator, the courses for ships’ officers that the Ministry has instituted, and the results of these courses. The paper, with three appendices which are not reproduced here, was presented at the Annual Meeting of the Ausschuss fur Funkortung held at Kiel from 12–17 September 1960, and is published with the kind permission of that body.