Which device’s audible tone alarm informs survivors that assistance may be nearby?

• A. Ship's whistle
• B. SART audible tone alarm
• C. NAVTEX transmitter
• D. EPIRB distress beacon

Answer: (B)

The SART (Search and Rescue Transponder) is a radar-responsive beacon used on survival craft. When a nearby vessel’s radar interrogates it, the SART replies with a signal that appears on that radar display and, importantly, emits an audible tone in the survival craft. That on-board audible tone is a clear cue to the occupants that a rescue vessel has detected them and assistance may be near.

The other devices don’t provide this on-site audible alert tied to detection by rescuers: a ship’s whistle is just general signaling for navigation or safety, NAVTEX broadcasts text information, and an EPIRB transmits distress data but doesn’t give occupants a local audible cue that help has found them.