AIS SART: A Search And Rescue Transponder/Transmitter (SART) is a self-contained device intended for emergency use at sea. The SART shall be capable of indicating the location of a vessel in distress on the assisting vessel’s radar or AIS (Automatic Identification System).
Imo req: The AIS-SART should:
1 be capable of being easily activated by unskilled personnel.
2 be fitted with means to prevent inadvertent activation.
3 be equipped with a means which is either visual or audible, or both visual and audible, to indicate correct operation;
4 be capable of manual activation and deactivation; provision for automatic activation may be included:
5 be capable of withstanding without damage drops from a height of 20 m into water.
6 be watertight at a depth of 10 m for at least 5 min.
7 maintain water tightness when subjected to a thermal shock of 45°C under specified conditions of immersion;
8 be capable of floating (not necessarily in an operating position) if it is not an integral part of the survival craft;
9 be equipped with buoyant lanyard, suitable for use as a tether,if it is capable of floating;
10 not be unduly affected by seawater or oil.
11 be resistant to deterioration in prolonged exposure to sunlight.
12 be of a highly visible yellow/orange colour on all surfaces where this will assist detection.
13 have a smooth external construction to avoid damaging the survival craft.
14 be provided with an arrangement to bring the AIS-SART antenna to a level of atleast 1 metre above sea level, together with illustrated instructions;
15 be capable of transmitting with a reporting interval of 1 minute or less.
16 equipped with an internal position source and be capable of transmitting its current position in each message; and
17 be capable of being tested for all functionalities using specific test information.
2.2 The AIS-SART should have sufficient battery capacity to operate for 96 h within a
temperature range of -20°C to +55°C, and to provide for testing of the functions on the
equipment. The AIS-SART should have an unique identifier to ensure the integrity of the
VHF data link.
2.3 The AIS-SART should be so designed as to be able to operate under ambient
temperatures of -20°C to +55°C. It should not be damaged in stowage throughout the
temperature range of -30°C to +70°C.
2.4 The AIS-SARTs should be detectable at a range of 5 nautical miles over water.
2.5 The AIS-SART should continue transmission even if the position and time synchronization from the positioning system is lost or fails.
2.6 The AIS-SART should transmit within 1 minute of activation.
