Radar - The Mariners’ Best Friend
by Captain Barry Natale The ancient Greek historian Thucydides allegedly said, “A collision at sea can ruin your entire day.” Debate continues about the actual origin of this sardonic idiom but most readily agree to its accuracy. At the very least, your day will be ruined if your vessel attempts to occupy the same latitude and longitude of another vessel at the very same time. So how do we go about preventing such a circumstance if we have the benefit of a high-tech marine Radar? Rule 7 of the International and Inland Navigation Rules establish that a vessel with operational Radar “shall” use it to determine if risk of collision exists; the mariner has no choice here. However, as an alternative to the dying art...