How to Ensure the Integrity of a VDR System

VDR is the equivalent of a ship’s black box of an aeroplane. It documents all the details of an accident at sea, such as the date, time, location, speed, and course of the ship. The data gathered can be used to pinpoint dangers to safety and enhance operations procedures.

According to IMO regulations the standard VDR is required to store an array of data. These include dates and times that are referred to Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) as well as vessel’s location (latitude longitude, latitude, coordinate reference) as well as speed and heading and bridge audio (acquisition of voice messages recorded by one or more microphones installed on the bridge for recording conversations and audible alarms), Very High Frequency radio communications (VHF) and radar information (a faithful replica of the display which was visible at the time of recording) the rudder’s order and response engine order and reaction watertight doors, their status, as well as the hull’s accelerations and stresses.

The system comprises a concentrator that process and encodes the data stream sensors that provide input to the concentrator and a final recording medium (FRM) designed to look at here now survive accidents and allow for the recovery of voyage data. The FRM can be a fixed unit mounted on the vessel, or a retrievable floating device connected to the EPIRB in order to locate the vessel quickly in the event of a catastrophe.

The best way to ensure that a vdr is working properly is to include its use in every bridge crew’s training exercises and drills. The data saved can be used to identify areas where training is required and to improve bridge procedures and operational safety.