VDR is the equivalent of a blackbox in an aeroplane. It records all the details of an incident on the water, including the time, date, location, speed, and the course of the vessel. The information recorded is an important resource for identifying potential safety hazards and improving the operation of the ship.
According to IMO regulations article the standard VDR is required to store a wide range of information. These include the date and time that is referred to Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) vessels’ position (latitude, longitude, coordinate reference), speed and heading and bridge audio (acquisition of voice messages recorded by one or more microphones located on the bridge in order to record conversations and audible alarms) and Very High Frequency radio communications (VHF) and radar information (a faithful replica of the radar display that was on view at the time of the recording) as well as rudder order and response, engine order and response as well as watertight doors and their status, as well as accelerations and hull stress.
The system consists of a concentrator that encodes and processes data streams, sensors that input data to the concentrator, and the final recording media (FRM) that can survive accidents and permit the retrieval of the voyage data. The FRM can be fixed on the vessel or a retrievable floating unit connected to EPIRB to provide a quick location in the event of an accident.
The best method to ensure that a vdr operates properly is to include its use in every bridge crew’s training exercises and drills. The saved data can be used to pinpoint areas where training is needed and also to enhance bridge procedures and operational safety.
