10/5/2015

SolasChapterVAnnex10VoyageDataRecorders(VDRS)

Annex10VoyageDataRecorders(VDRs)
1.Carriagerequirements
2.DownloadandPlaybackequipment

3.Exemptions

4.SystemInstallationTest

5.AnnualPerformanceCheckandCertification.

6.IMOGuidelinesonVoyageDataRecorders(VDR)OwnershipandRecovery
APPENDIXDatatoberecorded
1.)CARRIAGEREQUIREMENTS:
SOLASREQUIREMENTS
Regulation20:carriageofVoyageDataRecorders(VDRorSVDR)Timetableforfitting
Para.

Typeofvessel

DatebywhichVDRorSVDRmustbefitted

20.1.1

Passengershipsconstructedonorafter1July2002

VDRDateofbuild

20.1.2

Roropassengershipsconstructedbefore1July2002

VDRDateoffirstsurveyonorafter1July2002

20.1.3

Passengershipsotherthanroroconstructedbefore1July
2002

VDR1January2004

20.1.4

Shipsotherthanpassengershipsof3000gt.andupwards
constructedonorafter1July2002

VDRDateofbuild

20.2.1

Cargoshipsof20000gt.andupwardsconstructedbefore1
July2002*

VDRorSVDR**Dateoffirstscheduleddry
dockingafter1July2006butnotlaterthan1July
2008

20.2.2

Cargoshipsof3000gt.upto20000gt.constructedbefore1 VDRorSVDR**Dateoffirstscheduleddry
July2002*
dockingafter1July2007butnotlaterthan1July
2010

20.2.3

*Cargoshipsbuiltbefore1July2002maybeexemptedfromrequirementstocarryVDR/SVDRwhentheyare
tobetakenpermanentlyoutofservicewithin2yearsoftherelevantimplementationdate.

**See APPENDIXtothisAnnexforatableofdataitemstoberecordedbyVDRsandSVDRs.

ForEURequirementsforshipsondomesticvoyagesseeparagraph1.4
1.1)Regulation20requiresVDRstobefittedtoshipsbuiltonorafter1July2002
accordingtothetimetableabove.
1.2)Regulation20.2requirescargoshipsbuiltbefore1July2002tobefittedwith
VDRs,orSimplifiedVDRs(SVDR)asanalternative.
1.3)Regulation20.3recognisesthatoldershipsmayhavedifficultiesininterfacing
equipmentwithVDRsandallowsAdministrationstomakeexemptions.(SeeSection3
ofthisAnnex)

https://mcanet.mcga.gov.uk/public/c4/solasv/annexes/Annex10.htm

1/6

10/5/2015

SolasChapterVAnnex10VoyageDataRecorders(VDRS)

EUREQUIREMENTS
1.4EUCouncilDirective2002/59/EC(VesselTrafficMonitoringDirective)requires
allshipscallingataportofaMemberStatetobefittedwithaVDR.Thisincludes
shipsonUKdomesticvoyages.Shipsoperatingonlyincoastalwatersthatare
classifiedfordomesticpassengeshipsasECclassesB,CorD(seeTable3inAnnex
1)maybeexempted.
2.)DOWNLOADANDPLAYBACKEQUIPMENT
AnamendmenttotheperformancestandardsforVDRsandSVDRswasadoptedon
12May2006(IMOResolutionMSC.214(81)).Thisrequirestheequipmenttobefitted
withaninterfacecompatiblewithaninternationallyrecognisedformat,sothat
storeddatacanbedownloadedandplayedbackbyinvestigationgauthoritiesona
portablecomputer.
Theseadditionalrequirementsforinterfacingtoallowdownloadandplaybackapply
toallVDRandSVDRequipmentfittedonorafter1June2008
3.)EXEMPTIONS
3.1)ExemptionstoCarriageRequirements(existingvessels).
3.1.1)Regulation20.3ofSOLASChapterVstatesthat:Administrations
mayexemptships,otherthanroropassengerships,constructed
before1July2002frombeingfittedwithaVDRwhereitcanbe
demonstratedthatinterfacingaVDRwiththeexistingequipmentonthe
shipisunreasonableandimpracticable.Howevercargoshipsbuilt
before1July2002mustfitVDRsorSVDRsaccordingtothetimetable
in section1above.
3.1.2)EUCouncilDirective1999/35/ECstatesthat:ForVDR'stobe
placedonboardroroferriesandhighspeedpassengercraftbuilt
beforeentryintoforceofthedirective,exemptionsforcompliancewith
someoftherequirementsmaybegranted.
3.1.3)EUCouncilDirective2002/59/ECrequiresthatallshipscallingat
aportofaMemberStatearefittedwithaVoyageDataRecorder(VDR)
..meetingtheperformancestandardsofIMOResolutionA.861(20).
Andthatanyexemptionsgrantedtororoferriesorhighspeed
passengercraftunderArticle4(1)(d)ofCouncilDirective1999/35/ECof
29April1999onasystemofmandatorysurveysforthesafeoperation
ofregularroroferryandhighspeedpassengercraftservicesshall
terminateon5August2002.ThisDirectivecameintoforceinFebruary
2004.
3.1.4)Undercurrentproposals,therewillbenoexemptionforearly
scrappingofroroandpassengervessels.
3.2)Exemptionstorequirementtointerfacetocertainitemsofequipment.
3.2.1)Therehavebeenrequestsforpartialexemptionsforretrofitted
VDRs.Technically,itispossibletointerfacealmostanysensortothe
VDRusingsomeformofadditionalinterfacebox.Howevercost,
reliability,accuracy,degradationofsensoroutputandapprovalofsuch
interfacesmustbetakenintoconsideration.
3.2.2)InformationtobeinterfacedtoVDRsandSVDRs,itssourceand
formataregiveninthe Appendixfollowingthesenotes.Equipmenttobe
interfacedcanbedividedintonumberofcategories:
https://mcanet.mcga.gov.uk/public/c4/solasv/annexes/Annex10.htm

2/6

10/5/2015

SolasChapterVAnnex10VoyageDataRecorders(VDRS)

3.3)Navigationalequipment.
3.3.1)Mostitemsofnavigationalequipmentwillalreadyhavethe
standardIEC61162(NMEA0183)interfaceandsointerfacingwillbe
possible.Forthosethathavesomeotherformofelectrical/electronic
interface,itshouldbepossibletointerfacetotheVDRviaaninterface
box.
3.3.2)Inthecaseofapieceofnavigationalequipmenthavingno
electronicinterface,itmaybenecessarytoreplacethatequipmentin
ordertoobtainaninterface.Otheroptionsmayinclude:
3.3.3)Atechnicalsolutionachievedbyobtainingasuitablesignalfrom
withintheequipmentandconvertingthistothecorrectformat,without
nullifyingtheequipment'sTypeApproval.
3.4)Communicationsaudio:Standardaudiointerfacesexistandareinuseso
interfacing,possiblywiththeaidofanadditionalbufferamplifier/mixershould
notpresentaproblem.
3.5)Bridgealarms,hullopening,watertightandfiredoorstatus.
3.5.1)Asdefinedintheperformancestandard,therequirementisto
recordinformationdisplayedonthebridge.Bridgeindicatorsarelikely
tohavesimpleon/offstatusrepresentedbyclosingcontactsorthe
presence/absenceofavoltage.Technically,itwillnotbedifficultto
convertsuchsignalstotherequiredIEC61162format.
3.6)RudderandEngine(includingthrusters)orderandresponse.
3.6.1)Thesesystemsmaybeengineeredinmanyways(somenot
usingelectricityorelectronics)andoldersystemsaremostunlikelyto
haveanyformofinterface.Newelectromechanicalsensorsmayneed
tobeinstalledtosensemechanicalpositionsofcontrolsandtheoutputs
fromthesesensorsconvertedtothecorrectformat.
3.6.2)Carewillisneededwhenrunningcablingfromtheseadditional
sensorstothebridge/locationoftheVDRtoavoidcausingadditional
problems.
3.7)ApprovalofInterfaceBoxes.IEC61996requiresthatinterfaceboxesshould
meettherequirementsofIEC60945.Thisstandarddealsonlywithenvironmental
andEMCissues.
4.)SYSTEMINSTALLATIONTEST
4.1)TheVDR,andpossiblytheinterfaceboxes,willbeTypeApprovedbutto
ensurethecorrectfunctioningofaninstalledVDRsystem,anoverallinstallation
testorcheckwillberequired.Thiswillrequireeachofthesensorinputstobe
'exercisedinturn,informationrecordedandtherecordinganalysedforaccuracy.
Thereappeartobeanumberofoptionsforconductingtestingincluding:
4.1.1)Duringtheprovingofsensorequipmenttheresultswouldbea
thoroughtestofthesystemfromsensortoreplayedoutput.
4.1.2)Afterallsensorequipmenthasbeenprovenasfarasthebridge,
simulating,wherenecessary,inputstotheVDRwillrequirefacilities
toinjectorsimulateinputs.
4.1.3)Duringfunctionaltestsofship'sequipmentbyasurveyorless
complexthanafullmethodicalcheckbutmightnotproveeverysensor
https://mcanet.mcga.gov.uk/public/c4/solasv/annexes/Annex10.htm

3/6

10/5/2015

SolasChapterVAnnex10VoyageDataRecorders(VDRS)

input.
4.2)Surveyorcertificationisachievedthroughwitnessingaproving/demonstration
(bytheprimecontractor/manufacturer/installer)ofallaspectsoftheVDRsystem
tothesatisfactionofthesurveyor.
5.)AnnualPerformanceCheckandCertification.
5.1)Regulation18.8ofSOLASChapterVrequiresthat:
Thevoyagedatarecordersystem,includingallsensors,shallbesubjectedtoan
annualperformancetest.Thetestshallbeconductedbyanapprovedtestingor
servicingfacilitytoverifytheaccuracy,durationandrecoverabilityoftherecorded
data.Inaddition,testsandinspectionsshallbeconductedtodeterminethe
serviceabilityofallprotectiveenclosuresanddevicesfittedtoaidlocation.Acopy
ofthecertificateofcomplianceissuedbythetestingfacility,statingthedateof
complianceandtheapplicableperformancestandards,shallberetainedonboard
theship.
5.2)Ifinterpretedliterally,thiscouldrequireafullcheckoftheentiresystem(and
sensors)whichwouldbeevenmorecomplicatedthantheSystemInstallationTest
(4above).Thisisconsideredtooonerousforanannualcheck,theessenceof
whichisperceivedtobetoensuredataisrecordedandreplayedreliably.The
followingwouldbemoreappropriate:
5.3)Onboardinspectionofequipmenttoensurebatteries,enclosuresandlocation
aidsareingoodconditionandoperational.Thisshouldbeundertakeninaccordance
withthemanufacturer'sinstructionsbysuitablyqualified/experiencedpersonnel.
Successfulcompletionofthemaintenanceroutineshouldberecordedintheships
onboardplannedmaintenancelog.
5.4)A12hourrecordingshouldcoveranoperationalperiodwhenthemajorityof
sensorswillbeexercised.E.g.arrival,disembarkation,embarkationanddeparture
ofaroroferry.Downloadofthisrecordeddataorexchangeofrecordingmedium.
Offlineanalysisofrecordeddatabythemanufacturerscertifiedrepresentativeto
verifytheaccuracy,durationandrecoverabilityoftherecordeddata.Acertificate
confirmingthesatisfactoryresultsofthistestshouldberetainedonboard.

6.IMOGUIDELINESONVOYAGEDATARECORDERS(VDR)OWNERSHIPAND
RECOVERY
1.)OwnershipofVDR/data:
Theshipownerwill,inallcircumstancesandatalltimes,owntheVDRanditsdata.
however,intheeventofanaccidentthefollowingguidelineswouldapply.
2.)RecoveryofVDR:
RecoveryoftheVDRisconditionalontheaccessibilityoftheVDRorthedatacontained
therein.
a.)Inthecaseofanoncatastrophicaccident,recoveryofthememoryshouldbe
straightforward.Forexample,insomeVDRsitcanbeaccomplishedbyremoval
ofaharddiscfromtheVDRunit.Thisactionwillhavetobetakensoonafterthe
accidenttobestpreservetherelevantevidenceforusebyboththeinvestigator
[1]andtheshipowner.Astheinvestigatorisveryunlikelytobeinapositionto
instigatethisactionsoonenoughaftertheaccident,theownermustbe
responsible,throughitsonboardstandingorders,forensuringthetimely
https://mcanet.mcga.gov.uk/public/c4/solasv/annexes/Annex10.htm

4/6

10/5/2015

SolasChapterVAnnex10VoyageDataRecorders(VDRS)

preservationofthisevidenceinthiscircumstance.
b.)Inthecaseofabandonmentofavesselduringanemergency,masters
should,wheretimeandotherresponsibilitiespermit,recoverthememoryand
removeittoaplaceofsafetyandpreserveituntilitcanbepassedtothe
investigator.
c.)Inthecaseofacatastrophicaccident,wheretheVDRisinaccessibleandthe
datahasnotbeenretrievedpriortoabandonment,adecisionwillneedtobe
takenbytheFlagStateincooperationwithanyothersubstantiallyinterested
States [2]ontheviabilityandcostofrecoveringtheVDRbalancedagainstthe
potentialuseoftheinformation.IfitisdecidedtorecovertheVDRthe
investigatorshouldberesponsibleforcoordinatingitsrecovery.Thepossibility
ofthecapsulehavingsustaineddamagemustbeconsideredandspecialist
expertisewillberequiredtoensurethebestchanceofrecoveringandpreserving
theevidence.Inadditiontheassistanceandcooperationoftheowners,insurers
andthemanufacturersoftheVDRandthoseoftheprotectivecapsulemaybe
required.
3.)CustodyofVDR/data:
Inallcircumstances,duringthecourseofaninvestigation,theinvestigatorshouldhave
custodyoftheoriginalVDRdata,perhapsintheformofthewholeorpart(s)oftheVDR
itself,inthesamewayasifhehascustodyofotherrecordsorevidenceundertheCodefor
theInvestigationofMarineCasualtiesandIncidents.
4.)ReadoutofVDR/data:
Inallcircumstancestheresponsibilitytoarrangedownloadingandreadoutofthedata
fromtherecoveredmemoryinwhateverformshould,inthefirstinstance,beundertakenby
theinvestigatorwhoshouldkeeptheshipownerfullyinformed.Additionally,speciallyinthe
caseofacatastrophicaccidentwherethememorymayhavesustaineddamage,the
assistanceofspecialistexpertisemayberequiredtoensurethebestchanceofsuccess.
5.)Accesstothedata:
AlthoughtheinvestigatorwillhavecustodyoftheoriginalVDRmemoryinwhateverformfor
thedurationoftheinvestigation,acopyofthedatamustbeprovidedtotheshipowneratan
earlystageinallcircumstances.Furtheraccesstothedatawillbegovernedbythe
applicabledomesticlegislationoftheflagstate,coastalstateandtheleadinvestigatingstate
asappropriateandtheguidelinesgivenintheCodefortheInvestigationofMarineCasualties
andIncidents.
1.TheterminvestigatorreferstotheMarineCasualtyInvestigatoroftheflagStateor,whereithasbeenagreed,under
thetermsoftheCodeforInvestigationofMarineCasualtiesandIncidents,thatanotherStatewillleadtheinvestigation,
theMarineCasualtyInvestigatorofthatState
2.RefertoresolutionA849(20)CodefortheInvestigationofMarineCasualtiesandIncidents,para.4.11.

APPENDIXDATAITEMSTOBERECORDED
VOYAGEDATARECORDERDATAITEMSTOBERECORDED
IMOPerformanceStandard(Res.A.861(20))and
IECInformationformat(IEC61996).
A.861(20) DATAITEM
REF
https://mcanet.mcga.gov.uk/public/c4/solasv/annexes/Annex10.htm

SOURCE

5/6

10/5/2015

SolasChapterVAnnex10VoyageDataRecorders(VDRS)

5.4.1

Date&time

Preferablyexternaltoship(e.g.GNSS)

5.4.2

Shipsposition

ElectronicPositioningsystem

5.4.3

Speed(throughwaterorover
ground)

ShipsSDME

5.4.4

Heading

Shipscompass

5.4.5

BridgeAudio

1ormorebridgemicrophones

5.4.6

Comms.Audio

VHF

5.4.7

Radardatapostdisplayselection

Masterradardisplay

5.4.8

Waterdepth

EchoSounder

5.4.9

Mainalarms

Allmandatoryalarmsonbridge

5.4.10

Rudderorder&response

Steeringgear&autopilot

5.4.11

Engineorder&response

Telegraphs,controlsandthrusters

5.4.12

Hullopeningsstatus

Allmandatorystatusinformationdisplayedonbridge

5.4.13

Watertight&firedoorstatus

Allmandatorystatusinformationdisplayedonbridge

5.4.14

Acceleration&hullstresses

Hullstressandresponsemonitoringequipmentwherefitted

5.4.15

Windspeed&direction

Anemometerwhenfitted

SIMPLIFIEDVOYAGEDATARECORDER(SVDR)
DATAITEMSTOBERECORDED
IMOPerformanceStandard (Res.MSC.163(78))and
IECInformationformat(IEC61996).
MSC.163(78)
REF.

DATAITEM

SOURCE

5.4.1

Dateandtime

Preferablyexternaltoship(e.g.GNSS)

5.4.2

Ship'sposition

electronicpositioningsystem

5.4.3

Speed(Throughthewateror
overtheground)

Ship'sSDME

5.4.4

Heading

Ship'scompass

5.4.5

BridgeAudio

1ormorebridgemicrophones

5.4.6

Communicationsaudio

VHFcommunications

5.4.7

Radardata:postdisplay
selection

Masterradardisplay

5.4.8

AISData

AIStoberecordedifitisimpossibletorecordradar
data.
IfradarisrecordedAISmayberecordedasan
additionalsourceofinformation.

5.4.9

Otheritems

AdditionalitemsrequiredforVDR(Res.A.861(20))
wheninterfacingavailable.

Clickhereto Print thispage

CrownCopyright.

https://mcanet.mcga.gov.uk/public/c4/solasv/annexes/Annex10.htm

6/6