GMDSSSafety & Emergency SystemsSARTVDR & SVDR

Jotron Marine Safety Systems: EPIRB, SART, AIS, VDR Capsules & GMDSS Radio Guide

By SEANAV MARINE 3 min read

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GMDSS • SOLAS Life Safety

Jotron Marine Safety Systems: EPIRB, SART, AIS, VDR Capsules & GMDSS Radio Guide

A complete technical manual for maritime safety managers, technical superintendents, and radio surveyors covering Jotron distress beacons—Tron 60AIS/40AIS EPIRBs, Tron SART20 radar transponders, TR-8000 MkII Class-A AIS, Tron 40VDR float-free capsules, TR30 GMDSS handhelds, and Shore-Based Maintenance (SBM) protocols.

Technical Authority: Seanav Marine Radio Survey & Safety Desk
Standards: IMO SOLAS IV • Cospas-Sarsat T.001 • IEC 61097
Service Desk: Shore-Based Maintenance (SBM) across UAE & India

1. Cospas-Sarsat EPIRBs: Jotron Tron 60AIS & Tron 40AIS

Mandated by IMO Resolution MSC.471(101), all modern EPIRBs must feature direct local homing. The Jotron Tron 60AIS and Tron 40AIS broadcast on 406.031 MHz (Cospas-Sarsat global satellites), 121.5 MHz (SAR aircraft homing), and maritime VHF AIS (displaying an emergency beacon icon directly on surrounding ships’ ECDIS). They incorporate Galileo Return Link Service (RLS) blue confirmation LEDs and infrared (IR) strobes for night-vision goggle SAR operations.

2. Search and Rescue Transponders: Tron SART20 vs. AIS-SART

Under SOLAS Chapter III, ships carry SART transponders on the bridge wings. The Tron SART20 (9 GHz) responds to X-band radar sweeps with 12 distinct radial blips. The Jotron AIS-SART transmits GPS coordinates over VHF, plotting an emergency symbol and MMSI directly on rescue navigators’ screens.

3. Black-Box Float-Free Storage: Tron 40VDR AIS Capsule

Compliant with IMO MSC.333(90), the Jotron Tron 40VDR AIS capsule stores 48 hours of radar, audio, and sensor logs on an 80 GB solid-state memory. If the vessel sinks, the Hammar H20E hydrostatic release unit deploys at 2–4m depth, allowing the capsule to float free and transmit 406MHz/AIS homing signals to search teams.

4. Shore-Based Maintenance (SBM) & Annual Inspections

Under SOLAS IV/15 and IMO MSC/Circ.1040, EPIRBs require annual testing by certified technicians and hydrostatic release unit (Hammar H20E) replacement every 2 years. Lithium battery packs (Part 80059) are replaced every 5 years under certified SBM procedures.

SM

Authored by Lead Marine Radio Surveyor • Seanav Marine

Seanav Marine Technical Services LLC • Dubai Maritime City, UAE • Coordinating GMDSS radio surveys across all 12 IACS classification societies through authorized partner stations.

GMDSS, Safety & Emergency Systems, SART, VDR & SVDR
Posted on 03/10/2026 by SEANAV MARINE

Published

Reviewed by Certified IACS Class Radio Survey Engineers (IRS / ABS / BV / ClassNK)

Lead Marine Electronics Engineer & Survey Desk

Senior Marine Electronics Engineer & IACS Radio Surveyor

Certified marine electronics engineers and IACS classification radio surveyors with 15+ years of practical field experience in navigation electronics, gyrocompass overhaul, magnetic compass calibration, and SOLAS Chapter IV GMDSS radio surveys across UAE ports, Fujairah offshore anchorage, and the Suez Canal corridor. Operating from Dubai Maritime City, UAE.

Related GMDSS & Radio Survey resources: GMDSS & Radio Survey hub · Marinelite Marine Navigation & Bridge Electronics: Anemometers, GNSS, Class-A AIS & GMDSS Guide · Port of Fujairah Bunkering Anchorage — 24/7 Marine Navigation & GMDSS Service Spotlight · GMDSS Radio Survey Preparation & Class Certification (IRS, ABS, BV) under IMO SOLAS Chapter IV · IACS and Non-IACS Classification Societies: GMDSS Radio Survey & Procedural Requirements (PR1A, PR1B, PR1C, PR1D) Guide · Radio Survey Services in Oman | SOLAS & GMDSS Compliance | Seanav Marine