Resolution
MSC.246(83)
ADOPTION OF PERFORMANCE STANDARDS FOR SURVIVAL CRAFT AIS SEARCH AND RESCUE
TRANSMITTERS (AIS-SART) FOR USE IN SEARCH AND RESCUE OPERATIONS
(adopted on 8 October 2007)
THE MARITIME SAFETY COMMITTEE,
RECALLING Article 28(b) of the Convention on the
International Maritime Organization concerning the functions of the Committee,
RECALLING ALSO resolution A.886(21) on Procedure for
the adoption of, and amendments to, performance standards and technical
specifications, by which the Assembly resolved that the function of adoption
performance standards and technical specifications, as well as amendments
thereto shall be performed by the Maritime Safety Committee,
RECOGNIZING that new designs of radar are being
introduced which do not employ traditional pulsed technology,
RECOGNIZING ALSO that ships are now fitted with an
automatic identification system (AIS),
NOTING the results of operational trials on AIS
Search and Rescue Transmitter (AIS-SART) reported by Governments,
HAVING CONSIDERED the recommendation made by the
Sub-Committee on Radiocommunications and Search and Rescue at its eleventh
session, and the Maritime Safety Committee at its eighty-third session,
1. ADOPTS the Recommendation on Performance
Standards for survival craft AIS Search and Rescue Transmitter (AIS-SART) for
Use in Search and Rescue Operations set out in the Annex to the present
resolution;
2. RECOMMENDS Governments to ensure that AIS-SARTs
used in search and rescue operations installed on or after 1 January 2010
conform to the performance standards not inferior to those set out in annex to
the present resolution.
Annex.
PERFORMANCE STANDARDS FOR SURVIVAL CRAFT AIS SEARCH AND RESCUE TRANSMITTERS
(AIS-SART) FOR USE IN SEARCH AND RESCUE OPERATIONS
AIS Search and Rescue Transmitter (AIS-SART), in
addition to meeting the requirements of the relevant ITU-R Recommendation and
the general requirements set out in resolution A.694(17)*, should comply with
the following performance standards.
________________
*
Publication IEC 60945.
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.
2.1 The AIS-SART should:
.1
be capable of being easily activated by unskilled personnel;
.2
be fitted with means to prevent inadvertent activation;
.3
be equipped with a means which is either visual or audible, or both visual and
audible, to indicate correct operation;
.4
be capable of manual activation and deactivation; provision for automatic
activation may be included;
.5
be capable of withstanding without damage drops from a height of 20 m into
water;
.6
be watertight at a depth of 10 m for at least 5 min;
.7
maintain water tightness when subjected to a thermal shock of 45°C under
specified conditions of immersion;
.8
be capable of floating (not necessarily in an operating position) if it is not
an integral part of the survival craft;
.9
be equipped with buoyant lanyard, suitable for use as a tether, if it is capable
of floating;
.10
not be unduly affected by seawater or oil;
.11
be resistant to deterioration in prolonged exposure to sunlight;
.12
be of a highly visible yellow/orange colour on all surfaces where this will
assist detection;
.13
have a smooth external construction to avoid damaging the survival craft;
.14
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;
.15
be capable of transmitting with a reporting interval of 1 minute or less;
.16
equipped with an internal position source and be capable of transmitting its
current position in each message; and
.17
be capable of being tested for all functionalities using specific test
information.
2.2 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.
2.3 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.
2.4 The AIS-SARTs should be detectable at a range of
5 nautical miles over water.
2.5 The AIS-SART should continue transmission even
if the position and time synchronization from the positioning system is lost or
fails.
2.6 The AIS-SART should transmit within 1 minute of
activation.