Voyage Data Recorders (VDR)

Voyage Data Recorders (VDR) are devices that collect, process and record sensor data from ships to provide valuable insight following an incident. They are basically maritime black boxes that help determine the database access control best practices causes of maritime accidents and help in their prevention.

VDRs and S-VDRs are affixed to all vessels with 3000 gross tons or more constructed on or after 1 July 2002. A VDR/SVDR is a storage device that can be able to withstand pressures and shocks caused by incidents in the marine environment, such as sinking, collisions, or fire.

The system is designed to collect data from various sensors aboard a vessel and then compressing and digitizing it before storing it in the form of a secure storage unit, which is mounted externally. The tamperproof storage container is designed to withstand extreme heat, shock and impact as well as pressures that might be encountered during a maritime accident, for example, a collision or fire.

Members may want to consider upgrading their VDR/S-VDR systems in order to allow them to retain data for longer periods. The IMO performance standard only requires the VDR/S/VDR to store data for a maximum of 12 hours after an incident before it’s erased.

A growing number of companies are now offering a ‘MantaDigital’ S-VDR that can be accessed remotely in the same way airlines’ FDR data is analyzed after an incident. This allows for remote diagnosis of technical issues onboard and allows for implement proactive maintenance procedures. Regular shore-side replays help bridge teams to identify patterns in their performance and identify improvement opportunities.