MARPA is an acronym for Mini Automatic Radar Plotting Aid. The primary purpose of MARPA is Collision Avoidance and target tracking. In a typical navigation scenario the captain activates the MARPA function and, uses the Radar's cursor to acquire a target. Next, the radar automatically monitors the selected target and provides vital information back to you regarding the selected target's CPA (Closest Point of Approach), TCPA (Time to Closest Point of Approach), the targets speed and the targets direction (it's course). In addition the MARPA function will qualify each target as Safe or Dangerous and sound an alarm if the target enters your safety zone.

Pathfinder Radars provide a graphical risk assessment of tracked targets and can track up to 10 MARPA targets simultaneously. On Raychart equipped Pathfinder Radars MARPA targets are overlaid directly on the electronic chart, keeping potentially dangerous targets in view during charting operations

Each MARPA target displays a target vector indicating the direction the target is traveling