Voyage Data Recorders (VDR) are devices that collect, process and record sensor inputs from ships to provide valuable insight in the aftermath of an incident. They are basically maritime black boxes designed to help determine the causes of maritime accidents and help in their prevention.
VDRs and S-VDRs are fitted to all ships of 3000 gross tons or more built after 1 July 2002. A VDR/S-VDR http://www.digitaldealdataroom.info is a fixed electronic storage medium that is tamperproof enclosed in a capsule capable of withstanding the pressures and shocks that come to a marine event like collision, fire or sinking.
The system is designed to collect data from various shipboard sensors, and then digitize and compress it before storing it inside a externally-mounted protective storage unit. The tamperproof container is designed to withstand the severe heat, shock, impact and pressures that could be encountered in a marine incident such as a collision or fire.
Members may want to upgrade their VDR/SVDR systems in order they can keep the data for a longer duration. Currently, the IMO performance standard only requires the VDR/S-VDR to keep data for up to 12 hours following an incident before it is overwritten.
A growing number manufacturers offer a MantaDigital S-VDR that is able to be interrogated from a distance like how airlines’ FDR data are analyzed after an incident. This allows remote diagnosis of technical issues onboard and allows for implement proactive maintenance processes. Regular shore-side replays help bridge teams to understand patterns in their performance and to identify opportunities for improvement.