How does radar assist in avoiding collisions?

• A. By distinguishing color from nearby objects.
• B. By providing range and bearing to other vessels for early risk assessment.
• C. By measuring sea state only.
• D. By automatically steering the vessel to avoid collision.

Answer: (B)

Radar helps avoid collisions by showing the distance and direction to other vessels, so you can judge risk early. When you know both range (how far away) and bearing (where in relation to your heading) to a target, you can observe how that vessel is moving relative to you, estimate the closest point of approach and the time to that point, and decide on timely course or speed changes to maintain a safe clearance. This situation-awareness is essential for safe navigation, especially in congested or restricted waters, and is why radar is used for early risk assessment.

Color or appearance of targets isn’t provided by radar, so it doesn’t distinguish objects by color. It doesn’t measure sea state, so it isn’t used for assessing waves or swells. And radar alone doesn’t automatically steer the vessel—decisions and actions to avoid a collision come from the navigator using the information to make course or speed adjustments.