Onwa KS-33R AIS SART

This small device is worn on the life jacket. In the event a crew member goes over the side wearing one of these , a simple pull on the trigger cord will activate the device in as short a time as it takes for the device to get a position fix. In tests under heavy snow filled Scottish clouds we got a fix in 30 to 45 seconds.

Please note that the KS33R is not an EPIRB.    An Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon is used to alert search and rescue services in the event of an emergency. It does this by transmitting a digital message via the multinational Cospas-Sarsat network. The KS33R doesn't do that, instead it transmits the distress call via the AIS RF signal frequencies. Not so good you may say - and, yes, in some respects you will be right; but, the AIS distress signal will be picked up by all AIS receivers within range, meaning that a vessel close by can come to your aid possibly very much faster than the Rescue Services can do as they have to wait on your call via the satellite system and then get to you from, likely, some miles distance. Of course, the vessel closest to the person in the water will be the boat that that the casualty has just fallen from which will be able to quickly locate the lost person by following the position of the casualty on its own AIS receiver. The casualties own boat will almost certainly pick up the lost person before rescue Services can do so. 

A CHANNEL 16 CALL IS NEEDED ANYWAY - rescue services will also use the AIS signal to locate the casualty.