VDR (Voyage Data Recorder)

A voyage data recorder is the maritime equivalent of an aircraft black box, capturing bridge audio, VHF communications, radar and ECDIS images, position, heading, speed, and a defined set of ship’s data into a protected, recoverable capsule. Carriage is required by SOLAS V/20, with the performance standard for new installations set by IMO Resolution MSC.333(90). The protective capsule must survive fire, deep-sea pressure, and impact, and a float-free version is now required so the data can be recovered even if the ship sinks intact.