VDR is the equivalent to a black box in an aeroplane. It captures the events of a maritime accident visit which includes the time and date of an accident, location of the vessel at the moment of the incident as well as its speed, direction and other details. The recorded data is a valuable resource in identifying safety risks and enhancing operational procedures.
According to IMO regulations, the standard VDR must contain a range of data. These include: date and time referenced to Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) vessels’ position (latitude longitude, longitude and coordinate reference) along with speed and heading and bridge audio (acquisition of voice messages recorded by one or more microphones that are placed on the bridge for recording conversations and audible alarms), VHF radio communications (VHF) and radar data (a exact representation of the display that was in view at the time of the recording) as well as rudder order and response as well as engine response and order watertight doors, their status, and accelerations and hull stress.
The system consists of a concentrator, which encodes and processes data streams, sensors that input data to the concentrator and a final recording media (FRM) which is able to survive accidents and allow for the recovery of voyage data. The FRM can be a fixed unit mounted on the vessel or a retrievable floating device that is connected to an EPIRB in order to locate the vessel quickly in the event of a catastrophe.
The most effective way to ensure the integrity of a vdr system is to make its use an integral part of bridge drills and training sessions for crews. The saved data can be used to pinpoint areas in which training is required and as a means to enhance bridge procedures and operational safety.