MCA OOW Navigation and Radar
Course 402
MPT is the most complete full service private maritime school in the country and has been training mariners since 1983. Our Fort Lauderdale based campuses host over 45,000 square feet of classrooms, deck and engineering training labs, the Ship's Store, and student service facilities.
Preparing for MCA OOW Navigation and Radar
Course Description
OOW Navigation and Radar - Course #402
This 15 day course is designed for Officer of the Watch candidates pursuing their MCA Certificate of Competency.This course is taught in cooperation with our friends at Professional Yachtmaster Training in Fort Lauderdale. Students undertaking this course will be advised where to report to class on the first day. Both campuses are within walking distance of each other. This course combines classroom theory, which is led by a certificated instructor and practical training to prepare candidates for the additional responsibilities needed to upgrade to the OOW position onboard yachts and other vessels.
The module will consist of sections on basic chart work, navigation aids, basic radar operation and plotting. There will be practical in-course assessment throughout and satisfactory completion of this assessment will allow the student entry to the final written examination at the end of the course.
Subjects Include:
Basic chartwork and position fixing; Running fix with tides and leeway; Compass bearings and conversion from compass to true bearings; Horizontal angles; Clearing bearings and transits. Operation and setting up of Electronic Navigation Aids including: GPS; Loran C; Electronic Chart Systems; Echo Sounders and Logs; Basic operation and setting up of Radar & use of PI’s; chart symbols and abbreviations; The IALA system of buoyage both A & B and the Cardinal system. Tides & Tidal Stream Calculations.
Pre-Study:
Extensive pre-study is necessary to have an expectation of passing the examination. You should at least be proficient with ALL basic navigation principles and have studied rules of the road and chart work recently and thoroughly. Candidates are encouraged to download the MCA Syllabus for this course from the MCA website as well as order the student textbook well in advance and spend as much time as possible conducting a comprehensive study of the information before arriving on the course. The textbook can be obtained from the Student Services Office in hard copy or in digital format by request.
Candidates are asked to register in advance to have sufficient study time and are responsible for requesting their textbook and completing the pre-study needed to be prepared to undertake the course and exam.
Prerequisites:
It is strongly advised by the MCA that you take ECDIS #601 before taking the OOW Navigation and Radar Course. The written exam contains questions that are included in the ECDIS course but not in the Navigation & Radar Course Time frame.
Exam:
Part 1 will consist of 2 questions – 1 each on chartwork and radar plotting. Part 2 will consist of 4 questions to test “underpinning knowledge”. Candidates must achieve a minimum of 60% in both parts.
Please note that as of 1 January 2017 an MCA Approved Efficient Deck Hand (EDH) certificate must have been issued at least 18 months prior to the issue of your Officer of the Watch (Yachts less than 3000gt) Certificate of Competency.
