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EPIRB, SART & Emergency Equipment Flashcards

7 cards from real RYA SRC practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.

Read the first 7 EPIRB, SART & Emergency Equipment flashcards as text

  1. A PLB (Personal Locator Beacon) differs from a vessel EPIRB primarily because:

    Answer: A PLB is registered to an individual person rather than a vessel

    A PLB is registered to an individual and is intended for personal use, whereas an EPIRB is registered to a vessel and is designed to identify that specific vessel.

  2. Which radar frequency band does a conventional SART respond to?

    Answer: 9 GHz (X-band)

    A conventional SART is triggered by and responds on the 9 GHz X-band, which is the standard radar frequency used for navigation on most commercial and leisure vessels.

  3. When should the self-test function of an EPIRB be carried out?

    Answer: Periodically as specified by the manufacturer, typically monthly

    Manufacturers typically recommend monthly self-tests using the built-in test mode, which does not transmit a live distress signal via satellite.

  4. If an EPIRB activates accidentally and a satellite alert has been transmitted, what action should be taken first?

    Answer: Switch off the EPIRB and notify the appropriate rescue coordination centre that it was a false alert

    You must immediately switch off the EPIRB and contact the relevant RCC (in the UK, HM Coastguard via VHF Ch 16 or phone) to cancel the false alert and prevent unnecessary SAR resources being deployed.

  5. An AIS SART transmits on which channel/frequency?

    Answer: AIS channels 87B and 88B (161.975 MHz and 162.025 MHz)

    An AIS SART transmits a Class-A AIS position report on the two AIS working channels (87B and 88B), making it visible on any vessel fitted with an AIS receiver or AIS-capable chartplotter.

  6. What colour light does a float-free EPIRB flash to indicate it is transmitting after deployment?

    Answer: Red

    An activated EPIRB flashes a red LED to indicate that the distress signal is being transmitted.

  7. Under SOLAS, the battery of a float-free EPIRB must be replaced or recharged when:

    Answer: The battery expiry date has passed or the unit has been activated for more than one hour

    SOLAS requires the battery to be replaced or recharged by the marked expiry date or after cumulative activation exceeds one hour, whichever comes first.

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Sources & references

Exam facts on this page (fees, format, dates, passing scores) are checked against these official sources; the date is our last check. Editorial policy

  1. rya.org.uk — Score release, eligibility, fees, exam format, registration deadline, test delivery · verified Oct 2026