A search and rescue transponder (SART) is the main means for ‘locating ships in distress or their survival craft.
• As per SOLAS min 2 no required onboard-
• SART has been made of Fiber reinforced plastic which can bear the prolonged sunlight and stays unaffected by the sea water or oil.
• It is capable of self-floating free of survival craft.
• International ORANGE in color.
•SART is mounted in a mounting bracket which in turn is fixed to the bulkhead of ship.
• The SART operates in the 9GH frequency band (i.e. 9.2 to 9.5 GHz) and generates a series of response signals on being interrogated by any ordinary 9 Hz ship borne 3-cm X-band radar or suitable airborne radar.
• SARTs can be either portable for use on board ship or carrying to survival craft and/or permanently installed in the survival craft.
• The SART is activated manually so that it will thereafter respond when interrogated.
• When activated in a distress situation, a SART responds to radar interrogation by transmitting a signal which generates as a line of 12 blips code on a radar screen outward from the SART’s position along its line of bearing.
•Displayed on the Radar-Plan Position Indicator (PPI), the spacing between each pair of dots will be
0.6 nautical mile.
• As the search craft approach as to within about 1 nautical mile of the SART, the blip dots will change into wide arcs, and even become complete circles as the SART is closed and become continually triggered.
• This is useful warning to the search craft to slow down.
• This distinctive and unique radar signal is easily recognized and is therefore much easier to spot than a signal echo such as from a radar reflector.
• The SART also provides a visual or audible indication of its correct operation and will also inform survivors when it is interrogated by radar.
• An audible beep will sound every 2 seconds when the SART is interrogated by a radar and every 12 seconds when no radar in sight.
• The SART should have sufficient battery capacity to operate in the standby condition for 96 hours followed by a minimum 8 hours of transmission while being interrogated by radar.