VDR is the equivalent of a ship’s black box of an aeroplane. It captures all the information about an accident on the sea, including the date, time and location, speed, and course of the ship. The information recorded can be a valuable resource for identifying potential safety hazards and enhancing the operation of the ship.
According to IMO regulations, the standard VDR must contain a range of data. This includes the following: date, time and Coordinated Universal Time, vessel position (latitude and longitude, coordinate reference) as well as velocity and heading as well as audio messages from the bridge (voice messages recorded using one or more microphones on the bridge for recording conversations and audible alerts) and Very High-Frequency Radio Communications (VHF) and radar data (a exact reproduction of the display visible at the time of recording) Rudder and engine orders, watertight door status, and accelerations.
The system is comprised of a concentrator that encodes and processes the data stream sensors that supply input to the concentrator, and the final vdr system recording medium (FRM) designed to survive accidents and allow for the recovery of voyage data. The FRM can be fixed to the vessel or a retrievable floating unit that is connected to an EPIRB for early location in the event of an accident.
The best way to make sure that a vdr functions properly is to include its use in every bridge crew’s drills and exercises for training. The saved data may also be used to identify areas that require training and to improve bridge procedures and operational security.