What should be done if ARPA data and radar bearings disagree with lookout observations?

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When sensor data don’t line up with human observations, the key action is to re-verify using multiple independent aids and adjust your tracked information to reflect corroborated data. ARPA provides automated, quantitative tracking, but it can be affected by clutter, misidentification, or miscalibration. Lookouts offer crucial real-world bearings, yet visibility and fatigue can introduce error. Bringing in additional sources—such as a second radar, AIS information, GPS-based tracks, and corroborating visual bearings from the crew—helps confirm which data point is more reliable.

By re-checking with several aids, you reduce the risk of acting on a mistaken target and improve the reliability of your collision avoidance decisions. Once the corroborated information is found, update the target’s track accordingly to reflect the best-supported data. This approach maintains situational awareness and safety.

Skipping verification or choosing to rely solely on ARPA when there’s a discrepancy, ignoring the mismatch, or shutting down radar would eliminate critical information and degrade safety. Using corroborated information to adjust tracks is the prudent, safety-first response.