SART, Search and Rescue Transponder, is a mandatory equipment required on board vessels by SOLAS regulations. SART is a battery powered radar transponder when activated by survivors will respond to detected radar signals of ships thus notifying the position of survivors.

SART can only be detected by X-band radar which has a wavelength of 3 cm.

SART Photo by Sunil Unnikrishnan

X-band radar signals of ships within vicinity (max 8 to 10 miles) will trigger the SART from standby mode to send out its signal which will then be displayed on other ship’s radar screen.

Mockup of a radar screen displaying a SART cod...

As a cargo when SART is transported it’s classified as Dangerous Goods Class 9 UN 3091 LITHIUM METAL BATTERIES CONTAINED IN EQUIPMENT.

By shashi kallada

25 years in Merchant Shipping, Last 13 years working on Packaged Dangerous Goods Sailor, Ex Manager Global Dangerous Goods Maersk Line * Freelance Photographer *Amateur Cyclist

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