Question 1

What is an AIS-SART, and what does it display to nearby vessels in a distress situation?

Accepted Answer

An AIS Search and Rescue Transmitter that, when activated, transmits a series of AIS position reports showing as a distinctive symbol (often a series of expanding circles around the unit's position) on the AIS displays/ECDIS of nearby ships, helping them locate survivors or a vessel in distress An AIS-SART (Search and Rescue Transmitter) is a compact device, often carried in a survival craft or as a personal device, that when activated transmits a distinctive AIS signal at regular intervals. On the AIS display or ECDIS of nearby vessels, it appears as a special SART symbol with a series of expanding rings, along with position information, allowing ships and aircraft involved in a search to home in on the location of the survivors. It is an alternative/complement to radar-SART, which instead produces a response visible on X-band radar displays.

Question 2

You need to send a distress alert because the vessel is taking on water faster than the pumps can cope. Which message format and channel/priority is correct?

Accepted Answer

A "Mayday" distress call on Channel 16 / DSC distress alert, giving position, nature of distress and assistance required Grave and imminent danger requiring immediate assistance (e.g. uncontrolled flooding) requires a Mayday distress call / DSC distress alert — Pan-Pan is for urgency without immediate danger to life, and Securité is for navigational safety information.

Question 3

True or False: An EPIRB should be registered with the relevant national authority, and the registration details kept up to date so that a false alarm can be quickly resolved or a real activation correctly attributed.

Accepted Answer

True True. EPIRB registration links the unique beacon ID to vessel and contact details, allowing SAR authorities to quickly verify activations (genuine or false) and contact the vessel/owner — unregistered or out-of-date beacons slow down the SAR response and waste resources.