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TOPIC 2

VOYAGE DATA RECORDER

(VDR) AND SIMPLIFIED
VOYAGE DATA RECORDER
(S-VDR)
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LEARNING OBJECTIVES

Understands the purpose, capabilities

and limitations of Voyage Data
Recorder (VDR) and Simplified Voyage
Data Recorder (S-VDR)

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VOYAGE DATA RECORDER (VDR)

Voyage data recorder (VDR) means a complete

system, including any items required to interface
with the sources of input data, for processing
and encoding the data, the final recording
medium in its capsule, the power supply and
dedicated reserve power source.

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PURPOSE OF VOYAGE DATA RECORDER (VDR)

The purpose of a VDR is to maintain a store, in a

secure and retrievable form, of information
concerning the position, movement, physical
status, command and control of a vessel over the
period leading up to and following an incident
having an impact thereon.

Information contained in a VDR should be made

available to both the Administration and the
shipowner. This information is for use during any
subsequent investigation to identify the cause(s)
of the incident.

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SIMPLIFIED VOYAGE DATA RECORDER

(S-VDR)
Simplified Voyage Data Recorder (S-VDR), as
defined by IMO Performance Standard
MSC.163(78), is a lower cost simplified version
VDR for small cargo ships with only basic ship’s
data recorded.

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VOYAGE DATA RECORDER (VDR)

SOLAS CHAP V REG 20 - VDR
To assist in casualty investigations, ships, when engaged
on international voyages, subject to the provisions of Reg
1.4 (warships), shall be fitted with a voyage data recorder
(VDR) as follows:

1. passenger ships constructed on or after 1 July 2002;

2. ro-ro passenger ships constructed before 1 July 2002,
not later than the first survey on or after 1 July 2002;
3. passenger ships, other than ro-ro passenger ships,
constructed before 1 July 2002 not later than 1 January
2004; and
4. ships, other than passenger ships, >3,000 GT
constructed on or after 1 July 2002.
The SOLAS obligates to carry VDR for all new building
cargo ships and passenger ships >3,000GT.
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VOYAGE DATA RECORDER (VDR)

SOLAS CHAP V REG 20 – S-VDR
To assist in casualty investigations, cargo ships, when
engaged on international voyages, shall be fitted with a
VDR which may be a simplified voyage data recorder (S-
VDR) as follows:

1. cargo ships of >20,000 GT constructed before 1 July

2002, at the first scheduled DDocking after 1 July 2006 but
not later than 1 July 2009;
2. cargo ships of >3,000 GT but <20,000 GT constructed
before 1 July 2002, at the first scheduled DDocking after 1
July 2007 but not later than 1 July 2010

NB: SOLAS obligates to carry S-VDR for all existing cargo

ships >3,000GT after 1 July, 2006 but not later than 1 July,
2010.
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Voyage data recorder (VDR)

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Voyage data recorder (VDR)

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Voyage data recorder (VDR)

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VDR - Definitions
FINAL RECORDING MEDIUM means the items of hardware
on which the data is recorded such that access to any one
of them would enable the data to be recovered and played
back by use of suitable equipment. The combination of a
fixed recording medium and float-free recording medium
and long-term recording medium, together, is recognized
as the final recording medium.

FIXED RECORDING MEDIUM means a part of the final

recording medium which is protected against fire, shock,
penetration and a prolonged period on the ocean floor. It is
expected to be recovered from the deck of the ship that has
sunk. It has a means of indicating location.

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VDR - Definitions
FLOAT-FREE RECORDING MEDIUM means a part of the final
recording medium which should float-free after a sinking.
It has a means of indicating location.

LONG-TERM RECORDING MEDIUM means a permanently

installed part of the Final Recording Medium. It provides
the longest record duration and has a readily accessible
interface for downloading the stored data.

PLAYBACK EQUIPMENT means any data medium with the

playback software, the operational instructions and any
special parts required for connecting a commercial off-the-
shelf laptop computer to the VDR.

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VDR - Definitions
PLAYBACK SOFTWARE means a copy of the software
program to provide the capability to download the stored
data and play back the information. The software should be
compatible with an operating system available with
commercial off-the-shelf laptop computers and where
non-standard or proprietary formats are used for storing the
data in the VDR, the software should convert the stored
data into open industry standard formats.
DEDICATED RESERVE POWER SOURCE means a battery, with
suitable automatic charging arrangements, dedicated solely
to the VDR, of sufficient capacity to operate it as required
CONFIGURATION DATA describes the vessel's equipment, its
installation on the vessel and its relation to the VDR. The
storage and playback software uses this data to store the
data record and to convert the data record into information
that assists casualty investigation during playback.
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VDR - General Operational Requirements

1 continuously maintain sequential records

2 permit subsequent analysis of factors surrounding an

incident(playback on suitable equipment).

3 final recording medium installed in protective capsule

which meet the following requirements:
i. capable of being accessed following an incident but
secure against tampering;
ii. maximize the probability of survival and recovery of
the final recorded data after any incident;
iii. be of a highly visible colour and marked with retro-
reflective materials; and
iv. fitted with an appropriate device to aid location

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VDR - General Operational Requiements

DATA SELECTION AND SECURITY
➢ Selections of data items to be recorded are not
compromised
➢ not possible to tamper with the selection of data
➢ each item of the recorded data is checked for integrity

CONTINUITY OF OPERATION
➢ capable of operating from ship's emergency power
➢ if emergency power fails, it should continue to record
from dedicated reserve power for a period of 2 h.

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VDR - General Operational Requiements

DATA ITEMS TO BE RECORDED
1) date and time
2) ship’s position
3) ship’s speed
4) ship’s heading
5) bridge audio
6) communications audio
7) radar data, post-display selection (or, for S-VDR only, AIS data if
radar data is not available)
8) depth under the keel
9) status of all mandatory bridge alarms
10)rudder order and rudder position
11)engine orders and engine response (rev/min or pitch), including
any transverse thrusters.
12)status of hull openings
13)status of watertight doors and fire doors.
14)wind speed and direction

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VDR - Genaral Operational Requiements

The Data output interface of VDR and S-VDR are

provided with an interface for downloading the
stored data and playbacks the information to an
external computer.

This interface is compatible with an

internationally recognized format, such as
Ethernet, USB, FireWire, or equivalent

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SOLAS 1974, Regulation V/18.8

VDR system – certificate of compliance
The voyage data recorder system, including all
sensors, shall be subjected to an annual
performance test. The test shall be conducted by
an approved testing or servicing facility to verify
the accuracy, duration and recoverability of the
recorded data. In addition, tests and inspections
shall be conducted to determine the serviceability
of all protective enclosures and devices fitted to
aid location. A copy of the certificate of
compliance issued by the testing facility, stating
the date of compliance and the applicable
performance standards, shall be retained on
board the ship.
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IMO CIRCULARS
Resolution A.861(20) - adopted on 27 Nov 1997
Performance Standards for Shipborne Voyage Data Recorders (VDRs).
(This Resolution applies to VDRs installed before 01 July 2014).

Resolution MSC.163(78) - adopted on 17 May 2004

Performance Standards for Shipborne Simplified Voyage Data Recorders (S-
VDRs)

Resolution MSC.214(81) - adopted on 12 May 2006

Adoption of amendments to the performance standards for Shipborne Voyage
Data Recorders (VDRs) (Res. A.861(20)) and performance standards for Shipborne
Simplified Voyage Data Recorders (S-VDRs) (Res. MSC.163(78))

Resolution MSC.333(90) - adopted on 22 May 2012

Adoption of Revised Performance Standards for Shipborne Voyage Data
Recorders (VDRs). (For VDRs installed on or after 01 July 2014)
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Assignment Questions
1. State the purpose of Shipborne VDR as per IMO Resolution MSC 333(90).
2. List the data items to be recorded in VDR as per IMO Resolution MSC 333(90).
3. Describe the operational requirements of the following for Shipborne VDR as per IMO
Resolution MSC 333(90).
i) final recording medium ii) fixed recording medium
iii) float free recording medium
4. . Define the following terms for VDR as per IMO Resolution MSC 333(90) :
i. Voyage data recorder (VDR) ii. Final recording medium
iii. Fixed recording medium iv. Float free recording medium
v. Long-term recording medium vi. Playback equipment
vii. Playback software viii. Dedicated reserve power
5. Describe the operational requirement for Continuity of Operation for Shipborne VDR
as per IMO Resolution MSC 333(90)
6. Describe the operational requirements for Data Selection and Security for Shipborne
VDR as per IMO Resolution MSC 333(90)

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