How to Ensure the Integrity of a VDR System

VDR is the equivalent to a black box in an aeroplane. It captures all the information about an accident on the sea, including the time, date and location, speed, and the course of the vessel. The recorded data is an important resource for identifying potential safety hazards and improving the operation of the ship.

According to IMO regulations, the standard VDR is required to store a variety of data. These include dates, times, and Coordinated Universal Time, vessel position (latitude and longitude, coordinate reference) as well as heading and velocity audio messages from the bridge (voice messages recorded with one or more microphones on the bridge for recording conversations and alerts that sound) and Very High-Frequency Radio Communications (VHF), and radar data (a faithful reproduction of the display that is visible at the time of recording), rudder and engine information and watertight door status and accelerations.

The system is composed of a concentrator which process and encodes data streams, sensors that send data to the concentrator, and a final recording media (FRM) that can survive accidents and permit the retrieval of the voyage data. The FRM may be a fixed unit that is mounted on the vessel or a retrievable floating device that is connected to the EPIRB to help locate the vessel quickly in the event of a disaster.

The most effective method to ensure the integrity of an vdr system would be to make its use an integral part of all database access control best practices bridge crew training and drills. The saved data can also be used to pinpoint areas that require training and to improve bridge procedures and operational safety.