Appendix 1 - Definitions of terms to be used in connection with ARPA performance standards
Clasification Society 2024 - Version 9.40
Statutory Documents - IMO Publications and Documents - Resolutions - Assembly - IMO Resolution A.823(19) – Performance Standards for Automatic Radar Plotting Aids (ARPAs) – (Adopted on 23 November 1995) - Appendix 1 - Definitions of terms to be used in connection with ARPA performance standards

Appendix 1 - Definitions of terms to be used in connection with ARPA performance standards

 1. Target means any object fixed or moving whose position and motion is determined by measurements of range and bearing on radar.

2. Relative course means the direction of motion of a target relative to own ship’s position expressed as an angular displacement from north. It is deduced from a number of measurements of target range and bearing on own ship’s radar.

3. Relative speed means the speed of a target relative to own ship’s position. It is deduced from a number of measurements of target range and bearing on own ship’s radar.

4. Relative motion means the combination of relative course and relative speed.

5. True course means the true direction of motion of a target expressed as an angular displacement from north. It is obtained by a vector combination of target relative motion and own ship’s true motion.footnote

6. True speed means the speed of a target obtained by a vector combination of target relative motion and own ship’s true motion.footnote

7. True motion means the combination of true course and true speed.

8. True bearing means the direction of a target from own ship or from another target expressed as an angular displacement from north.

9. Relative bearing means the direction of a target from own ship expressed as an angular displacement from own ship’s heading.

10. True motion display means a display across which own ship and each target moves with its own true motion.

11. Relative motion display means a display on which the position of own ship remains fixed and all targets move relative to own ship.

12. Azimuth stabilized display means a display in which the azimuth orientation relative to a nominated true bearing is fixed.

13. North-up display means an azimuth stabilized display in which a line connecting the centre with the top of the display is north true bearing.

14. Course-up display means an azimuth stabilized display in which a line connecting the centre with the top of the display is own ship’s intended course.

15. Heading means the direction in which the bows of a ship are pointing expressed as an angular displacement from north.

16. Target’s predicted motion means a prediction of future target motion based on linear extrapolation from its present motion as determined by past measurements of its range and bearing on the radar.

17. Relative vector means the predicted movement of a target relative to own ship.

18. True vector means the predicted true motion of a target as a result of own ship’s direction and speed input. The true vector may be either displayed with reference to the water or to the ground.

19. Acquisition means the process of selecting a target or targets and initiating their tracking.

20. Tracking means the computer process of observing the sequential changes in the position of a target in order to establish its motion.

21. Target swop means a situation in which the incoming radar data for a tracked target becomes incorrectly associated with another tracked target or a non-tracked radar echo.

22. Acquisition area means an area set up by the observer which should automatically acquire a target when it enters such an area.

23. History means equally time-spaced past position of a target which is being tracked. The history may be relative or true.

24. Trails means tracks displayed by the radar echoes of targets in the form of a synthetic afterglow. The trails may be either relative or true. The true trails may be sea or ground stabilized.

25. Echo reference means a facility for indicating that a particular fixed navigational mark which is being tracked is to be used as a ground stabilized reference.

26. Trial manoeuvre means a facility to assist the observer in making the correct manoeuvre for navigation and collision avoidance purposes.

27. Suppressed area means an area set up by the observer within which targets are not acquired.

28. ERBL means the electronic range and bearing line used to measure bearings and/or ranges.

29. CPA/TCPA stands for closest point of approach (CPA) and time to closest point of approach (TCPA) limits from own ship as defined by the observer, to give warning of when a tracked target or targets will close to within these limits.

30. Bow passing prediction is the situation associated with a target which is crossing or predicted to cross ahead of own ship.

31. Bad echo is the name associated with a tracked target which appears to have been temporarily lost or which has a poorly defined radar aspect, so that it does not have tracking ability.

32. Lost target is the name associated with a target that is no longer being tracked due to having been lost or obscured.

33. Sea stabilization is a mode of display whereby own ship and all targets are referenced to the sea, using gyro heading and single axis log water speed inputs.

34. Ground stabilization is a mode of display whereby own ship and all targets are referenced to the ground, using ground track or set and drift inputs.

35. Predicted points of collision is a graphical representation of where predicted collision intercept points lie with respect to own ship and other targets.

36. PAD means the predicted area of danger defined around a predicted close quarter situation area. The size is determined by speed ratios between own ship and the target in question and CPA distance limits as defined by the observer.

37. Map lines means the navigational facility whereby the observer can define lines to indicate channels or Traffic Separation Schemes. Sometimes called Navlines, these lines require ground stabilization to stop them drifting.

Note: Where reference is made to target range, bearing, relative course, relative speed, closest point of approach (CPA) or time to closest point of approach (TCPA), these measurements are made with respect to the radar antenna.


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