What does Head-up orientation indicate on a marine radar display?

What does Head-up orientation indicate on a marine radar display?

• A. The top shows true north at the top
• B. The top shows the vessel's heading and rotates with the ship
• C. The top shows the vessel's course over ground
• D. The top is fixed to magnetic north

Answer: (B)

Head-up orientation keeps the top of the radar display aligned with the vessel’s heading, and the image rotates as the ship changes heading so the bow remains at the top. This means bearings to targets are read directly from the bow reference, making it easy to judge where other vessels or land are relative to the ship’s current direction. It’s different from north-up or magnetic-north up, where the top is fixed to a geographic or magnetic reference and the picture doesn’t rotate with the ship. It’s also different from course-up, which ties the top to the vessel’s course over ground rather than the instantaneous heading.

Head-up orientation keeps the top of the radar display aligned with the vessel’s heading, and the image rotates as the ship changes heading so the bow remains at the top. This means bearings to targets are read directly from the bow reference, making it easy to judge where other vessels or land are relative to the ship’s current direction. It’s different from north-up or magnetic-north up, where the top is fixed to a geographic or magnetic reference and the picture doesn’t rotate with the ship. It’s also different from course-up, which ties the top to the vessel’s course over ground rather than the instantaneous heading.