Distress Signaling, EPIRB and SART Operation, and Survivor Management

Why Distress Signaling Skills Save Lives

When a vessel is abandoned, the survival craft becomes your world. Rescuers cannot find survivors they cannot detect. Your job is to make yourself as visible and detectable as possible while managing the people and resources in the craft long enough for rescue to arrive. This lesson covers the three layers of distress signaling — electronic, radar, and visual — and the survivor-management practices that keep a crew alive and functional during an extended wait.

The 406 MHz EPIRB

An Emergency Position-Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB) transmits a distress signal on 406 MHz to the Cospas-Sarsat satellite network. The satellites calculate the beacon's position and relay an alert to a ground station, which notifies the appropriate rescue coordination center (RCC). A properly registered EPIRB sends the vessel's identity, flag state, and contact information along with the position fix, allowing rescuers to confirm the alert is genuine and know whose vessel is in distress before they launch.

EPIRBs carried under SOLAS are typically Category I (float-free, automatic activation) or Category II (manual activation). In a real emergency, either type can be activated manually by lifting the antenna, removing any hydrostatic release housing, and switching to the ARM or ON position as marked on the unit. During this lesson you will use a non-transmitting training simulator — never activate a real EPIRB unless you are in genuine distress; a false alert wastes rescue resources and is a federal violation.

Check the registration label on any EPIRB: it should show the 15-digit hex ID code, vessel name, owner contact, and expiration date of the battery and hydrostatic release. Registration is maintained through the NOAA EPIRB Registry in the United States.

The Radar SART

A Search and Rescue Transponder (SART) operates in the 9 GHz band (X-band radar). When a vessel's radar sweeps the SART, the SART responds by transmitting a series of pulses that appear as a line of 12 dots extending outward from the SART's position on the rescuing vessel's radar display. The innermost dot is the SART's actual location. SARTs are effective at ranges up to approximately 10 nautical miles from a vessel with a standard radar antenna height, though range depends on antenna height and sea state.

To activate a SART, extend the antenna, switch from STANDBY to ON, and hold it as high as possible — elevation increases detection range. An internal alarm or LED tells you the unit has been interrogated by a radar. Keep the SART above the gunwale and away from metal objects that could block the signal.

AIS-SARTs are a newer type that transmit AIS position reports rather than radar responses; they appear as an AIS target on a rescuer's display. The operating principle of holding it high and keeping it activated is the same.

Visual Signals: Mirrors, Flares, and Smoke

Signal mirror: A signal mirror can reflect sunlight toward an aircraft or vessel during daylight in clear conditions and is effective at very long ranges — well over ten miles in ideal conditions — because sunlight is extremely bright. The technique is to hold the mirror close to your face, sight through the aiming hole or use your outstretched fingers as a rough sight, and sweep slowly across the horizon or toward a known target. Even without direct sunlight, a mirror can be used with any bright artificial source.

SOLAS pyrotechnics — know which to use when:

• Parachute rocket flare: Fires to a minimum altitude of 300 meters and burns for at least 40 seconds while descending. Visible at long range. Best used at night or in low visibility when a search aircraft or vessel is believed to be within range. Fire it downwind and slightly downwind of vertical if wind is strong, to keep it burning longer before it descends over you.
• Handheld flare: Burns red and is held at arm's length, downwind and away from the craft to avoid burning hot drips landing inside. Good for close-range confirmation — use it when a rescuer is already nearby, not to attract initial attention at distance.
• Buoyant smoke signal: Produces orange smoke for at least three minutes. Ideal for daytime use in clear weather; smoke is ineffective in rain or fog. Throw it downwind of the craft so smoke blows away from survivors.

Signal timing and conservation: SOLAS survival craft carry a limited supply of pyrotechnics. Firing all flares the moment you hear an aircraft is a critical error — the aircraft may not see you on the first pass, and you will have no signals left. The standard approach is to use one signal to attract attention, wait for a response, then use a second to guide the rescuer to your position.

Survivor Management in a Survival Craft

A 72-hour survival scenario is not just about signaling; it is about keeping people alive and functioning.

Water rationing: Dehydration degrades decision-making and physical ability. Do not drink seawater — it accelerates dehydration. Ration potable water from the survival craft's stores; SOLAS requires a minimum quantity per person. Avoid physical exertion and shelter from sun and wind to reduce water loss through sweating.

Watch scheduling: Assign rotating lookout watches so every survivor rests while the craft is continuously monitored for rescue opportunities. Fatigue causes lookouts to miss signals from rescuers.

Morale and leadership: Assign tasks to keep survivors purposeful. Announce decisions openly, address injuries promptly using the first-aid supplies aboard, and keep spirits up with realistic assessments. Panicked or idle survivors consume water faster and make poor decisions.

Injured survivors: Keep injured persons warm and sheltered, monitor for shock, and restrict their water ration only as a last resort — injured people need hydration to recover.

Safety Notes for This Lesson

All flare props in this lesson are inert training devices. Real pyrotechnics require PPE (eye protection, gloves) and must never be activated indoors or pointed at people. The EPIRB training unit is a non-transmitting simulator and must not be confused with a live unit. Handle all training devices as if they were live to build correct habits.