About Bridge Watch

Stand a radar watch on a busy vessel track. Read each contact's Closest Point of Approach (CPA) and Time to CPA (TCPA), apply COLREGS give-way rules, and alter course early enough to make your action obvious. Covers COLREGS Rule 5 (lookout), Rule 7 (risk of collision), Rule 8 (action to avoid collision), and Rule 16 (give-way vessel obligations).

The CPA/TCPA radar skill is tested on every USCG deck officer exam and is the most important real-time judgement a watchkeeper makes at sea. Essential for the USCG radar endorsement and STCW Management Level watchkeeping competency.

• Calculating CPA and TCPA from relative motion vectors
• Applying COLREGS Rules 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, and 19
• When action is "ample and timely" vs. too late or too small
• Safe speed selection in restricted visibility (Rule 6)