Voyage Data Recorder (VDR)

The voyage data recorder is the maritime equivalent of an aircraft black box, continuously recording bridge audio, radio communications, radar and ECDIS images, position, heading, speed, depth, rudder and engine orders, alarms, and other data to a protected, recoverable capsule. SOLAS V/20 requires a VDR on passenger ships and certain cargo ships, with a simplified S-VDR allowed on some older cargo ships. The recording supports casualty investigation and is kept for a defined period before overwrite; performance standards are set in IMO Resolution MSC.333(90).