K.R.GUPTAINDIAN MARITIME UNIVERSITY

NAVIGATIONAL EQUIPMENTS

A I S-SART

AIS-SART

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AIS-SART - The future Search and Rescue Transmitter

From January 1st 2010, AIS-SART technology has been adopted into IMO GMDSS carriage requirements as an alternative survivor Search and Rescue Locating Device to existing 9GHz Radar SARTs.

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A major benefit of the AIS SART is that target survivor information becomes viewable using standard ships’ AIS equipment, with both the range and course to locate the survivors clearly presented on the ships’ AIS user display.

AIS-SART

Technically, the AIS-SART is based on the following principals; the unit will be programmed from the manufacturer with a unique ID code and receives its position via an internal GPS antenna. This data is combined and transmitted using the international AIS channels (AIS A and AIS B) in the maritime VHF band.

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The transmitter sends out a specified pattern. Every minute, a sequence of 8 messages is transmitted, each message is transmitted in a 26 ms time slot. 4 messages are transmitted on channel A and 4 on channel B. All 8 messages are transmitted within a total time frame of 14 seconds. This time frame is defined to maximize the probability that one of the transmissions hits a wave top. It is only necessary to receive one of the 8 messages from time to time to accurately locate the AIS-SART.

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How do you know that this is an AIS-SART distress signal?

Anybody who can receive and detect an AIS signal will also detect an AIS-SART. The trans mission signal from an AIS-SART consists of an MMSI like ID code, where the first three digits will be “970”. The ID code consists of a total of 9 digits and the AIS-SART uses the remaining 6 digits to indicate a manufacturer code (2 digits) in addition to the unit’s unique serial number (4 digits).

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Frequencies for AIS

transmission

VHF Ch87B ( 161.025 Mhz)

VHF Ch88B ( 161.975 Mhz)

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In addition to the ID code that appears on the AIS and connected equipment, an AIS-SART will also be visualized on an electronic chart, connected to the AIS transponder onboard. An AIS-SART will be shown as a circle with a built-in cross.

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The AIS-SART simplifies the search considerably because the position is plotted directly on the vessels electronic map system, because the AIS is a fully digital system.

Only one transmission of 26 ms is required to accurately get the position on the map, while the radar-SART requires continuous updates.

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The ranges obtained ranged from 40 Nm up to 132 Nm from the AIS-SART mounted on a 1m pole.

It can be located at a far greater distance, with GPS precision, using standard equipment (AIS) that automatically positions the persons in distress on a map. There is no doubt that the AIS-SART will contribute to a more effective and less time con suming search and rescue operations in the future, with the result that more people in distress will be saved!

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Models available :Smartfind S5 AIS SART- McMurdo

AIS-SART TRON - JOTRON

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Performance Standards for

SURVIVAL CRAFT AIS SEARCH AND RESCUE TRANSMITTERS (AIS-SART) FOR USE IN SEARCH AND RESCUE OPERATIONS RESOLUTION MSC.246(83)

The AIS-SART should be capable of transmitting messages that indicate the position, static and safety information of a unit in distress. The transmitted messages should be compatible with existing AIS installations. The transmitted messages should be recognized and displayed by assisting units in the reception range of AIS-SART, and clearly distinguish the AIS-SART from an AIS installation.

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The AIS-SART should: be capable of being easily activated by unskilled

personnel; be fitted with means to prevent inadvertent

activation; be equipped with a means which is either visual or

audible, or both visual and audible, to indicate correct operation;

be capable of manual activation and deactivation; provision for automatic activation may be included;

be capable of withstanding without damage drops from a height of 20 m into water;

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be watertight at a depth of 10 m for at least 5 min; maintain water tightness when subjected to a

thermal shock of 45°C under specified conditions of immersion;

be capable of floating (not necessarily in an operating position) if it is not an integral part of the survival craft;

be equipped with buoyant lanyard, suitable for use as a tether, if it is capable of floating;

not be unduly affected by seawater or oil;be resistant to deterioration in prolonged exposure

to sunlight;

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be of a highly visible yellow/orange colour on all surfaces where this will assist detection;

have a smooth external construction to avoid damaging the survival craft;

be provided with an arrangement to bring the AIS-SART antenna to a level of at least 1 metre above sea level, together with illustrated instructions;

be capable of transmitting with a reporting interval of 1 minute or less;

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equipped with an internal position source and be capable of transmitting its current position in each message; and

be capable of being tested for all functionalities using specific test information.

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.

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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.

The AIS-SARTs should be detectable at a range of 5 nautical miles over water.

The AIS-SART should continue transmission even if the position and time synchronization from the positioning system is lost or fails.

The AIS-SART should transmit within 1 minute of activation.

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The following should be clearly indicated on the exterior of the equipment:

brief operating and test instructions; expiry date for the primary battery used.