SART

Search and Rescue

Transponder

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 Purpose of SART
• May only be used in emergency situations

• The aim is to locate the scene of the accident

• Visible on the 3 cm (9 GHz, X-band) radar

– a 12-dot line
– when approaching, SART signal shows
wider arcs

• Required range 5 NM (IMO’s standard)

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 SART

Own area 5 NM

Distance Distance SART is closed

approx. 5 NM approx. 1 NM
IMO’s standard:
- Radar antenna 15 m
- SART 1 m
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 STRUCTURE OF SART
• Receiver 9 GHz
• Transmitter 9 GHz
• Start and sweep electronics
• Power source lithium battery

Concepts:
• stand by (activated, functional preparedness)
– transmitter switched on
– transmitter stand by
• transmitting
– receiver responds to the received radar pulses

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 Characteristics of SART
• Manual start-up
• Functioning time activated in standby 96 hours
• Functioning time when transmitting 8 hours
• Must float in water
• Range at least 5 NM
– SART placed 1 m and radar antenna 15 m above sea level
– an aeroplane can detect from as far as from the distance of 30 NM
when the flight altitude is 1000 m
• On the survival craft the survivors will receive an audible
and/or visual indication from the SART signals indicating that
the signals have been received by an approaching ship or
aircraft.

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 Where SART is kept on the
vessel
• On the bridge
– in a rack
– in a place from which it is easy to take the
SART along

• If there are two SARTs, they are kept one at the

each side of the bridge

• SART shall not be stored on lifeboats or life rafts

(if there is not a SART on each of them)

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 SART on a Life Raft
• If you have to abandon vessel, take SART
with you on the lifeboat or life raft

Keep SART
• upright
– the polarization of the antenna correct
– increases range

• as high up as possible
– increases range

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 SART – testing and maintenance
Testing:
• SART can be tested by turning the switch to testing position
(TEST)
– Signal light and possible signal sound indicate whether the device
functions correctly
– Can also be seen in one’s own 3 cm radar as circles
– Test should be short, less than 10 seconds
Choosing the location for performing the test
– If possible, you should choose such a location that there are not any
other vessels equipped with radar nearby and the area is not in the
radar surveillance of any coast station
Maintenance
• Keep SART clean
• Test SART regularly (recommendation once a month)
• Change the battery with the interval of four years
– check the date markings 13
 AIS SART
From 1st January 2010
• a traditional radar SART or
• AIS-SART

• the self-identification of AIS SART is a 9-digit

series of numbers
– 970 (3-digit identification of AIS-SART)
– the 2-digit identification of the manufacturer
– a 4-digit individual serial number

• built-in GPS

• transmits only on the AIS channel of the VHF

– radio range can be as long as approx. 20 NM
(weather conditions and antenna height
have an effect on the radio range)
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 AIS SART AIS-SART symbol

AIS SART
• Transmits self identification and location
information with the interval of 1 minute
– 8 identical position report messages
(four on 161.975 MHz and four on 162.025
MHz) to make sure that at least one
transmission is transmitted from the
highest point of the wave

• Visible on vessels’ AIS receivers and

electronic chart systems (ECDIS)
– a flashing symbol or AIS-SART symbol

– text + GPS position

• Functioning time at least 96 hours

• Used in a distress situation in the same way

as radar SART 14