Consilium S-VDR S1, User Manual, Page: 35 / 74

User information
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12 Regulations
12.1 Purpose of VDR
According to IMO, the purpose of a Voyage Data Recorder (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. This information is for use during any subsequent
investigation to identify the cause(s) of the incident.
12.2 Carriage Requirements and Data Items to be recorded
Further IMO [SOLAS] has regulated that all ships (fishing ships excluded) over 3000 gross
tonnage engaged on international voyages shall be fitted with a VDR:
•
Older cargo ships built before 1 July 2002 can have a Simplified VDR (S-VDR), meaning
that at least Date and Time, Ship position, Speed, Heading, Bridge Audio, Communication
Audio, Radar main display and AIS, shall be recorded by the VDR and stored in Final
Recording Medium (FRM) and protected by a Capsule. (If more bridge information is
available as IEC 61162 [NMEA] data signals, it must also be recorded).
•
Modern cargo Ships (built after 1 July 2002), all passenger ships and all ro-ro passenger
ships must have “full” VDR, meaning that more information available on the bridge must be
recorded and stored in the FRM/Capsule. Such additional information is Echo Sounder, IMO
mandatory bridge alarms, Rudder order/response, Main engine and Thruster order/response. If
these ships are enjoined to have indicators on bridge for Status of Hull-Watertight- and
Firedoors, Acceleration and hull stresses, Wind speed and direction, that information must
also be recorded and stored.
12.3 Resistance to Tampering and Continuity of Operation
The equipment is designed, as far as practicable, so it is not possible to tamper with the data.
Any attempt to interfere with the integrity of the data or the recording is recorded by the
VDR. The recording progress must not be interrupted. If the ship's emergency power is lost
the VDR proceeds recording the bridge audio for two hours. The VDR automatically starts
full recording again if power comes back.
The VDR Main Unit must be locked and the key shall be kept by a dedicated officer e.g. the
Master or Safety Officer of the ship. The recording must be terminated only
•
during essential maintenance purposes whilst the vessel is in port
•
when the vessel is laid-up
•
upon request by an investigation authority, for example after the vessel had been involved
in a marine incident.
All breaks and other interruptions in the normal VDR operation are recorded in special log
and event files, which are not erased after 12 hours.
12.4 Ownership of VDR Information
IMO has regulated that the ship owner will, in all circumstances and at all times, own the
VDR and its information. However, in the event of an accident special guidelines would apply
(see IMO MSC/Circ1024 in paragraph 5 Annex). The owner is responsible, through its on-
board standing orders, for ensuring the timely preservation of relevant recorded evidence.
Further the owner of the ship shall make available and maintain instructions necessary to