Annual testing of VDR and S-VDR

14 January 2020 |  C20002

The Maritime Safety Committee at its 101st session approved amendments to the Guidelines on annual testing of Voyage Data Recorders (VDR) and simplified Data Recorders (S-VDR).

NOTICE TO
Ship Owners/ Managers/ Operators | Surveyors / Auditors

The Maritime Safety Committee, at its 101^st session (5 to 14 June 2019), approved amendments to the Guidelines on annual testing of Voyage Data Recorders (VDR) and simplified Voyage Data Recorders (S-VDR), prepared by the Sub-Committee on Navigation, Communications and Search and Rescue, at its sixth session (16 to 25 January 2019).

The purpose of an annual performance test is to determine that a VDR/S-VDR is operational as defined in the manufacturer’s specification. In addition, because of the “black box” nature of this equipment, there is a need to have a document which clearly lists all the interfaces which have been checked to confirm compliance with the appropriate International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) test standards. This transparency is essential for Surveyors or Port State Control Officers.

To assist in achieving this aim, it is recommended that all VDR and S-VDR be subject to a standard method of testing as detailed in the MSC.1/Circ.1222/Rev.1.

VDRs installed on or after 1 July 2014, are required to be approved to the IMO Resolution MSC.333(90). In addition, for float-free capsules approved in accordance with resolution MSC.333(90), the examination should be carried out in accordance with MSC.1/Circ.1040/Rev.1 “Revised Guidelines on Annual Testing of Satellite EPIRBs”.

Our revised Publication

We have revised our Publication relating the on-board maintenance and drills agenda taking into account the above new requirement.

Act now

Ship Owners / Managers / Operators must ensure that the annual performance testing of VDRs and S-VDRs are carried out in accordance with the revised Guidelines.