McMurdo has introduced its first AIS SART (Automatic Identification System Search And Rescue Transmitter) to its range of safety products.
The Smartfind S5 AIS SART is aimed at the commercial maritime market and is designed to assist in survivor craft location during search and rescue operations.
After 1 January 2010 the AIS-SART is adopted into IMO GMDSS carriage requirements as an alternative survivor Search and Rescue Locating Device to existing 9GHz Radar SARTs. A major benefit of the AIS SART is that target survivor information becomes viewable using standard ships AIS equipment, both the range and course to locate the survivors will be clearly presented on the ships AIS user display.
Smartfind S5 transmits a series of updating structured alert messages including its geographic position and serialised identity number.
Once activated, the Smartfind S5 AIS SART transmits emergency alerts for a minimum of 96 hours. An in-built high precision GPS provides exact position information to assist in quick recovery of survivors. Buoyant, waterproof and rugged the Smartfind S5 has a long life non-hazardous battery for easy transportation making an economical alternative to the traditional 9GHz SART.
