Your examiner asks: "What is the practical effect of horizontal beam width and vertical beam width on radar performance?"

A. HORIZONTAL beam width (typically a narrow beam, commonly in the region of a few degrees on most marine radars) determines BEARING DISCRIMINATION — the ability to display two targets at the same range but different bearings as two separate echoes rather than one smeared echo. A narrower horizontal beam gives sharper, more accurate bearings and better bearing discrimination. VERTICAL beam width is deliberately made much wider so that the beam continues to illuminate the sea surface and nearby targets even as the ship pitches and rolls — if the vertical beam were as narrow as the horizontal beam, a modest degree of pitch or roll could point the beam over the top of a close target or into the sea, causing intermittent loss of contacts in a seaway.

B. Horizontal beam width controls range discrimination, not bearing. Vertical beam width has no functional purpose and is simply a manufacturing by-product of the antenna design.

C. Both horizontal and vertical beam widths are made as narrow as physically possible on all marine radars, since a wider beam in either plane only degrades performance with no benefit.

D. Vertical beam width determines bearing discrimination, and horizontal beam width is what keeps the beam on target during pitching and rolling.

A. Nothing — a test lift can proceed immediately after repairs

B. Testing should wait until cargo operations begin

C. The area within the grab's swing radius should be cleared of personnel before the lift

D. Only the crane operator needs to be aware the lift is happening

A. Who must remain clear of the exclusion zone while the lift takes place

B. The lunch schedule for the deck team

C. Only the weather forecast for the next watch

D. The cargo manifest for the next port