VDR (Voyage Data Recorder) is the maritime version of the black box airlines use. The system is typically two-part and consists of a data collecting unit connected to a protective capsule on deck designed to withstand fire, deep sea pressure, shock and penetration. It is used to capture incidents of navigation, but it can also provide valuable data to assess damage during heavy weather monitoring performance and crew training.
Up-grading
Many ships with VDR/SVDR comply with the minimum regulatory requirements. However, Members are encouraged use the equipment to record near misses, conduct investigation into incidents, and for preventative maintenance. There are also programs that allow for an extension of the duration for which VDR data will be available beyond the minimum of 12 hours. A decision must be taken on whether to upgrade.
The system is built on an industrial-grade computer that can perform a number functions, including processing and encoding data from sensors. The data is then stored in a capsule that is designed to stand up to an accident and provide proof of what happened onboard the vessel. The VDR system consists of the data collection device that is located on the bridge, as along with a separate http://www.digitaldealdataroom.info/ power supply, an interface unit, and backup batteries. The unit gathers data from all integrated sources including microphones for recording bridge audio, and sends it to the Concentrator where a sequence of NMEA 0183 sentences are interpreted and encoded for transmission to the final recorded medium.