Annual VDR performance test and verification

Our company has certificates and approvals for performing inspections of black boxes with the issuance of APT and COC certificates for the following types of VDRs:

During the annual inspection of the black boxes, the following is done:

• Verification of the configuration of the VDR
• Verifying the software version
• External inspection, check of connections and damages
• Download 12 hour recording with subsequent analysis of the operation of the VDR
• Checking the validity of the batteries (backup source of the main unit, batteries of the hydroacoustic beacon and a freely pop-up capsule)
• Check of all sensors (data arrival and correctness)
• 2-hour operation of the RDR on the standby power supply
• Issuance of an APT certificate and no later than 30 days issuing a COC certificate

Voyage Data Recorder (VDR) is a system for recording and storing voyage data from external sources:

• Date, time, position  from GPS sensors.
• Speed  (relative to water or ground)
• Course of the vessel  - gyrocompass
• The image from the radar station  or data from the  AIS *
• Sound from microphones  (in the cabin in the nodes, on the wings of the bridge and from the UHF r / st)
• Depth  from the fishfinder *
• Alarms  from the ship's control system *
• Access control  from door sensors, etc. *
• Water sensor, fire alarm *
• Position of the stylus *
• Screws *
• Level of thrust *
• Wind speed and direction  Anemometer *

The incoming data are digitized and stored for storage in a capsule, which is of two types:

• Free-floating (search is carried out according to the principle of EPIRB)
• Fixed on the roof of the vessel (search by hydroacoustic beacon)

In the capsule, the data is stored for at least the last 12 hours. 

In accordance with the regulations, all cargo vessels in service must be equipped with a voyage data recorder, permitting a simplified configuration, in the following order:

• Cargo ships with a gross tonnage of 20,000 or more constructed before July 1, 2002 - during the first scheduled docking after July 1, 2006, but no later than July 1, 2009.
• Cargo ships of gross tonnage of 3000 or more, but less than 20,000, built before July 1, 2002, - during the first planned docking after July 1, 2007, but no later than July 1, 2010.