The Radar Observer (Unlimited) course is designed for mariners who need to obtain or renew their Radar Observer endorsement, which is required for navigating vessels equipped with radar. This course covers both theoretical and practical aspects of radar navigation and is crucial for deck officers or anyone working on vessels in congested or limited-visibility waters.
Required Textbooks
*These textbooks are provided as resources in your course.
- Navigational Rules and Regulations Handbook; United States Coast Guard (provided as a course resource)
- Radar and ARPA Manual; Bole, Wall, and Norris; Third edition
- Radar Renewal NMI Workbook (provided as a course resource)
Optional Navigation Tools
*These tools are listed for anyone who would like to plot on paper by hand for additional practice along with the online tools.
- Leaded Compass 6″ or 8″
- Dividers 6 or 8″
- 2 Triangles
- One of the following: Parallel Rules OR Weems Roller Plotter
- Blank Radar Transfer Plotting Sheets
Duration
*This course expects a student to spend 36-40 hours of reading material, problem solving and quizzes to be well prepared for the exam.
System Requirements
This course must be completed on a Windows computer. Internet access is required. The preferred web browser is Google Chrome, but you may use Edge if necessary.
Requirements
Who Needs This Course
Licensed deck officers, mates, or captains on vessels equipped with radar.
Course Completion Requirements
Upon completion of the online study materials, students will be able to complete their written exams online using our HALO° exam monitoring application & will complete their Radar Plotting Exam online by scheduling with one of our instructors remotely. Please contact the Registration Office at 508-992-4025 or registration@nmi.edu for remote assessment scheduling information. At the end of the course content, you will need to take 3 online exams:
- RADAR Theory: Passing Score (70%)
- RADAR Rules of the Road: Passing Score (90%)
- RADAR: Final Plotting Exam (via MS Teams Video Call using online simulations): Passing Score (70%)
The online course is based upon the 40-hour IMO Model Course and trainees are expected to contribute a comparable effort in the online course.
Topics Covered
Radar Theory:
- Basic principles of radar operation.
- Understanding radar equipment and functionality.
- Limitations of radar (e.g., blind spots, range, and detection issues).
Radar Plotting and Interpretation:
- Plotting of targets manually and electronically.
- Collision avoidance techniques using radar.
- Interpretation of radar displays, including relative motion of other vessels.
- Plotting techniques to determine risk of collision (CPA and TCPA).
Radar Navigation:
- Use of radar for safe navigation in restricted visibility.
- Radar-assisted navigation techniques, including land and shoreline identification.
- Position fixing and course determination using radar.
Collision Avoidance Regulations (COLREGs):
- Application of the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea (COLREGs) in radar operations.
- Use of radar for determining safe speeds and avoiding collisions.
Hands-on Training:
- Practical experience using radar simulators.
- Simulating real-world scenarios, including traffic in crowded or limited-visibility waters.
- Making radar-based decisions in different weather and sea conditions.
Assessments
Written Examination
This course consists of two written exams: RADAR Theory and RADAR Rules of the Road.
- RADAR Theory: Passing Score 70% required
- RADAR Rules of the Road: Passing Score 90% required
Your exams will be completed using HALO° Exams. You will receive 3 attempts for each exam. If you fail all 3 attempts of an exam, you will be required to re-take a portion or all of the course. A re-take fee of $25.00 per exam will cover the cost of re-enrollment and additional exam attempts.
Practical Assessment
This course requires a video call with an instructor to satisfy assessment requirements. For scheduling information, please contact our Registration Office: 508-992-4025 / EMAIL NMI
