Maritime Glossary
Search and Rescue Radar Transponder
Also known as: SART, AIS-SART
A battery-powered transponder that responds to a 9-GHz ship radar, producing 12 dots on the rescuer's radar to indicate a survivor's position.
Status: ActiveVerified: Source confidence: high (96%)
Full Definition
A SART activates when the vessel is abandoned and responds to X-band (9-GHz) radar pulses, generating 12 equally-spaced blips along the bearing toward the survivor. Mandatory under SOLAS III/6, one SART must be carried in each survival craft. AIS-SARTs transmit a virtual AIS target visible on ECDIS and Class A transponders. Both types have a detection range of approximately 5–10 NM depending on antenna height and radar power.
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