Automatic Radar Plotting Aid (ARPA) Course
ARPA Course Description
The ARPA course (Automatic Radar Plotting Aids) is a mandatory 5-day course designed to meet the mandatory minimum standards of competence given in Table AII/1 of STCW for “use of radar and ARPA to maintain safety of navigation”.
The course includes the theory necessary to understand the system configuration, principles, performance of shipborne marine radar and ARPA, the acquisition and display of tracked targets, the factors affecting target tracking performances, the limitations and accuracy of that information, the correct use of operational controls to obtain an optimal display and to use ARPA information for collision avoidance and to maintain safety of navigation.
Find ARPA Course Near You at Best Affordable Price
The ARPA course is offered by 31 DG Shipping-approved institutes across India, including locations in: Maharashtra, Delhi, West Bengal, Haryana, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh.
With the STCW Course Finder Portal, you can compare the prices of different colleges and choose the starting date and your preferred location for the STCW Course. With this portal, you can find an ARPA Course in Mumbai or an ARPA course in Delhi. No more wasting time surfing websites, or calling colleges.
Eligibility for ARPA Course
To attend the ARPA Course, you need to clear all of the points mentioned below.
- Sea-Time Requirement
- Deck Cadets who have completed a minimum of 9 months sea time
- OR
- Deck Ratings who have completed a minimum 24 months sea time.
- Bridge Watchkeeping Required
- The sea time must include a minimum period of Six months of bridge watchkeeping at sea.
- This shall be evidenced in the Deck Cadet / Ratings Record book as 720 hours of Bridge watchkeeping.
- Completed the DG-approved “RADAR OBSERVER SIMULATOR COURSE”.
Documents Required for ARPA Course
To apply for the ARPA course you need a list of documents such as:
- INDoS Id
- CDC
- RADAR OBSERVER SIMULATOR COURSE Certificate.
- Valid Medicals by a D.G.Shipping Approved Doctor (Click here for the list of DGS Approved Doctors)
- A valid passport
ARPA Course Details
The ARPA course equips seafarers with essential topics to ensure that meeting the required performance standards shall be able to operate and interpret and analyze information obtained from ARPA. The training covers:
- Description of an ARPA System.
- ARPA Systems display characteristics
- Acquisition of targets.
- Tracking Capabilities and Limitations.
- Processing Delays.
- Operate an ARPA System
- Obtaining target information.
- Errors of Interpretation.
- Errors in Displayed Data
- Risks of Over-reliance on ARPA.
ARPA Course Fees
ARPA course fees depend on college to college. The ARPA course fees can vary from ₹4,000 – ₹10,000, so ensure you select the right college with our STCW Course Finder Portal.
Complete the Process for the ARPA Exam
1. ARPA Assessment Exam
- Written Multiple Choice Test on Theory, Operation, and Interpretation with 70% as Pass marks.
- Practical assessment of the operation of Radar/ARPA and Orals on its operation and use for collision avoidance.
How to Download ARPA Course Certificate?
- After completing the 5-day ARPA course at the DG Shipping-approved MTI, the MTI generates the ARPA certificate.
- The certificate can be downloaded through the Indos CoP Checker on the DG Shipping website.
- If you face any difficulty in downloading, refer to our step-by-step video guide on how to download the STCW certificate. Click on the link to watch the video.
What is the ARPA Certificate Validity
- The ARPA STCW Course certificate is valid for lifetime.
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