IMO Regulations

International Standard IMO A.163(78):

The IMO resolution A.163(78) requires a (S)VDR, which may be a simplified voyage data
recorder (S-VDR), to be fitted to cargo ships above 3,000 gross tonnage.
Phasing in the requirement to carry a (S)VDR for cargo ships over 20,000 gross tonnage started
at the first docking date after July 1st, 2006, to be fitted by July 1st, 2009 at the latest.
Cargo ships above 3,000 gross tonnage need to be fitted with a (S)VDR at the first docking date
after July 1st, 2007, should all be fitted out by July 2010.
All of NetWave's VDR's are designed with this retrofit market in mind, focussing primarily on
cost-effectiveness due to ease of installation, as well as the availability of a full range of plug &
play standard-interfaces, eliminating the need to use third party add-on products with associated
complexity and risks.
VDR and S-VDR
The difference between a VDR and a Simplified-VDR mainly relates to the number of recording
channels and their characteristics. Both systems require Radar video, Bridge microphones as well
as VHF audio, in conjunction with position data, heading and course information, to be recorded
for a minimum of 12 consecutive hours.
For a 'full fledged' VDR system, the additional compulsory channels to be recorded are expanded
to other shipboard systems like echo sounders, propulsion and steering gear, watertight doors,
fire and smoke detection, etc.
NetWave's (S)VDRs are designed in a scalable manner in order for both VDR and S-VDR
systems to be built from the same components, without the need for 3rd party products, and all in
compliance with IMO regulations.
For new buildings, a VDR is required.
Mandatory Data to be Recorded
S-VDR compulsory
Data to be recorded
Date and Time
Position and Datum
used
Speed
Heading

Sensor / IMO
Interface
MSC.163(78)
GPS receiver,
NMEA /IEC61162
IMO 5.4.1
GPS receiver,
NMEA /IEC61162
IMO 5.4.2
Speed Log or
GPS receiver,NMEA /analog
IMO 5.4.3
Gyro
NMEA /Stepper,

Bridge Audio
Communications
Audio

Compass,
Synchro, Analog
IMO 5.4.4
Bridge
Microphones,Standard
IMO 5.4.5
VHF Radio Standard

Radar, IMO
5.4.7, but if
no RGB
output
RGB
Radar
available to HV/DVI/Composite
obtain radar
image, AIS
as alternative
AIS , only if
radar image
AIS Information
NMEA /IEC61162
is not
available
S-VDR (if NMEA available)
Sensor and
Data to be recorded
IMO
Interface
MSC.163(78)
Echo
if NMEA
Depth
Sounder,
available
IMO 5.4.9
Alarm
if NMEA
Main Alarms
System, IMO
available
5.4.9
Autopilot,
if NMEA
Rudder order and response
IMO 5.4.9 available
Engine
Control
if NMEA
Engine order and response
System, IMO available
5.4.9
Monitoring
if NMEA
Hull openings status
System, IMO
available
5.4.9
Monitoring
Watertight and Fire door
if NMEA
System, IMO
status
available
5.4.9
Monitoring
if NMEA
Acceleration and Hull stress System, IMO
available
5.4.9
Anemometer, if NMEA
Wind Speed and Direction
IMO 5.4.9 available

Differences between S-VDR (retrofit) and VDR (new

buildings)
ITEM
S-VDR
VDR
All the passenger
Existing cargo ships
ships and newly built
3000GT and
cargo ships of 3,000
Target
upwards
GT and upwards
(International
(International
navigation)
navigation)
Fixed type or Float
Capsule
Fixed type
free type selectable
Date and time,
Position, Datum,
Date and time,
Speed, Heading,
Position, Datum,
Mandatory
Bridge audio, VHF
Speed, Heading,
record data
audio, Depth, Main
Bridge audio, VHF
alarm, Rudder,
audio
Engine, Hull, Door,
Radar
Depth, Main alarm,
If IEC 61162
Rudder, Engine,
Hull stress(if fitted),
interface is
Hull, Door, Hull
Wind(if fitted)
available
stress, Wind
Where there is
commercial off-theRadar image
Mandatory
shelf interface
available
If radar image is not Not required
AIS
available
(recommended)

S-VDR vs VDR

Simplified Voyage Data Recorder (S-VDR), as defined by the requirements of IMO Performance
Standard MSC.163(78), is a lower cost simplified version VDR for small ships with only basic
ships data recorded.
The differences between S-VDR and VDR based on the required data recorded are illustrated on
the following table (X indicates mandatory data):
Input

VDR

S-VDR

Date and Time

Ships Position

Speed

Heading

Bridge Audio

Communications Audio

Radar Data

X
When no radar signal is
available

AIS (Radar alternative)

Acceleration and Hull Stresses (if fitted)

Echo Sounder

Engine Order and Response

Hull Openings (Doors) Status

Main Alarms (IMO Mandatory Bridge Alarms)

Rudder Order and Response

Watertight and Fire Doors Status

Wind Speed and Direction

Only when they are

available on the bridge via
an IEC 61162 interface

There is no principle difference between a voyage data recorder (VDR) and a simplified voyage data recorder (SVDR). The difference is the amount of information required to be recorded. The VDR requires more data to be
recorded than the S-VDR.
VDRs : or Voyage Data Recorder is a data recording system designed for all vessels required to comply with the
(IMO)'s International Convention (SOLAS) Requirements (IMO Res.A.861(20)) in order to collect data from
various sensors on board the vessel. It then digitizes, compresses and stores this information in an externally
mounted protective storage unit.

S-VDR : is not required to store the same level of detailed data as a standard VDR, but
nonetheless should maintain a store, in a secure and retrievable form, of information concerning
the position, movement, physical status, command and control of a vessel over the period leading
up to and following an incident.

SOLAS VDRs Carriage RequirementsUnder regulation 20 of SOLAS chapter V on Voyage data recorders (VDR),
the following ships are required to carry VDRs:
passenger ships constructed on or after 1 July 2002.
ro-ro passenger ships constructed before 1 July 2002 not later than the first survey on or after 1 July 2002.
passenger ships other than ro-ro passenger ships constructed before 1 July 2002 not later than 1 January 2004.
ships, other than passenger ships, of 3,000 gross tonnage and upwards constructed on or after 1 July 2002.
Administrations may exempt ships, other than ro-ro passenger ships, constructed before 1 July 2002, from being
fitted with a VDR where it can be demonstrated that interfacing a VDR with the existing equipment on the ship is
unreasonable and impracticable.
SOLAS SVDRs Carriage Requirements

Data Items That Must be Recorded by the VDR

IMO Resolution A.861: 1997[/size][/size]

Data types

Date and time: Referenced to UTC with an indication of the source. The source could be the GPS
Ships position: In latitude and longitude with the datum used. The source could be the GPS
Speed: Through water or speed over ground with indication of which it is. The source could be
the speed log
Heading: As indicated by the ships compass. The source could be the gyro compass
Bridge audio: As picked up by one or more microphones positioned on the bridge so that
conversation at or near the conning stations, radar displays, chart tables, etc., is adequately
recorded. As far as practicable, the positioning of microphones should also capture intercom,
public address systems and audible alarms on the bridge
VHF communications Relating to ship operations should be recorded
Radar data: Electronic signal information from within one of the ships radar installations with
recording of all the information which was actually being presented on the master display of that
radar at the time of recording

AIS data: If it is impossible to obtain radar data by using a commercially available interface
then AIS target data should be recorded as a source of information regarding other ships. If radar
data is recorded, AIS information may be recorded additionally as a beneficial secondary source
of information on both other and own ship. AIS data is not mandatory, but an option when it is
impossible to obtain radar data by means of a commercially available interface
Additional data: Items listed by IMO with the requirements set out in resolution A.861(20)
should be recorded when the data is available in accordance with the international digital
interface standard NMEA0183 using approved sentence formatters. The additional data listed by
IMO with the requirements in resolution A.861(20) are:
Echo sounder
Main alarms
Rudder order and response
Engine order and response
Hull openings status
Watertight and fire door status
Accelerations and hull stresses
Wind speed and direction
The additional data (any or all) shall only have to be recorded if the data are available on the
bridge and the data signals are available in NMEA0183 format. Hence, the principle difference
between VDR and S-VDR lays in the requirements for recording of additional data

Data Must be Recorded by SVDRs

Recording, bridge and communication audio, radar, position, speed, heading, date and time and,
if radar data is not possible, AIS data

The VDR System

May consist of recording control unit , protective storage unit and data
acquisition unit, which connected to various equipment and sensors on board
a ship
[]
[/]
The protective storage Capsule
May be in a retrievable fixed unit or free float unit (or combined
with EPIRB) when the ship sunk in marine incident. The last 12
hours of stored data in the protected unit can be recovered and
replayed by the authorities or ship owners for incident
investigation.
Must be provided with radar reflectors and special color and special
frequency above the water and sound frequency under the water.