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VDR is an equivalent of a ship’s black box in an aeroplane. It captures all the information about an incident on the water, including the time, date the location, speed and the course of the vessel. The information recorded can be used in identifying potential safety hazards and improve operations.
According to IMO regulations, the standard VDR is required to record various kinds of information. This includes the date and time that is referred to Coordinated Universal Time (UTC), vessel position (latitude, longitude and coordinate reference) as well as speed and heading bridge audio (acquisition of voice messages recorded by a microphone or two that are placed on the bridge to record conversations and audible alarms), Very High Frequency radio communications (VHF) and radar information (a faithful replica of the display that was visible at the time of the recording) as well as rudder order and response as well as engine response and order watertight doors as well as their status, and accelerations and hull stress.
The system is comprised of a concentrator that processes and encodes the data stream, sensors that provide input to the concentrator, and the final recording medium (FRM) designed to survive disasters and enable the recovery of voyage data. The FRM can be a fixed device mounted on the vessel, or a retrievable floating device connected to the EPIRB to allow for the identification of the vessel quickly in the event of a disaster.
The best way to ensure that a vdr is operating correctly is to incorporate its use in every bridge crew’s training exercises and drills. The saved data can be used to pinpoint areas where training is required and also to enhance bridge procedures and operational safety.