A radar transponder that responds to X-band radar pulses to indicate the position of a survival craft to SAR aircraft and vessels.
Regulatory detail & full definition
A Search and Rescue Transponder is a portable radar-activated beacon carried under SOLAS Chapter III requirements in survival craft and survival equipment. When a vessel is in distress, the SART is activated and responds to 9 GHz (X-band) radar pulses from SAR aircraft or ships with a distinctive series of twelve blips on their radar display, arranged in a straight line extending away from the SART position.
On watch, the officer of the watch must recognise the SART signature on radar and understand that it indicates a survivor in the water or in a survival craft. The display pattern shifts to twelve concentric circles as the searching vessel closes within about one nautical mile. The device operates for a minimum of ninety-six hours in standby mode and eight hours in active transmission.
SARTs are tested monthly using a dedicated test mode that verifies the alarm light and transmission without broadcasting a false distress. SOLAS Regulation III/6 covers carriage requirements, and annual servicing must be recorded. AIS-SARTs are increasingly common and transmit a digital AIS distress message in addition to the radar response, offering greater compatibility with modern bridge systems.
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