Which device uses a radar signature to aid in locating distressed vessels?

Which device uses a radar signature to aid in locating distressed vessels?

• A. SART (SAR Transponder)
• B. EPIRB
• C. PLB
• D. DSC

Answer: (A)

The device being tested is one that is designed to respond to radar interrogations with a distinctive radar signature, helping rescuers locate a distressed vessel. A radar transponder like this replies when hit by a ship’s radar at 9 GHz, and the reply appears on the radar screen as a recognizable pattern—typically a line or chain of dots that climbs up the display as range to the beacon decreases. This clear radar signature lets the search and rescue operator pinpoint the beacon’s bearing and approximate distance even in poor visibility, making it the best choice for locating a distressed vessel by radar. EPIRBs and PLBs broadcast distress signals to satellites or ground receivers rather than creating a radar-targetable return on a ship’s radar, and DSC handles digital distress messages over radio without producing a radar signature.

The device being tested is one that is designed to respond to radar interrogations with a distinctive radar signature, helping rescuers locate a distressed vessel. A radar transponder like this replies when hit by a ship’s radar at 9 GHz, and the reply appears on the radar screen as a recognizable pattern—typically a line or chain of dots that climbs up the display as range to the beacon decreases. This clear radar signature lets the search and rescue operator pinpoint the beacon’s bearing and approximate distance even in poor visibility, making it the best choice for locating a distressed vessel by radar.

EPIRBs and PLBs broadcast distress signals to satellites or ground receivers rather than creating a radar-targetable return on a ship’s radar, and DSC handles digital distress messages over radio without producing a radar signature.