MSC.333 (90) - Revised Performance Standard For VDR 22 May 2012
MSC.333 (90) - Revised Performance Standard For VDR 22 May 2012
MSC.333 (90) - Revised Performance Standard For VDR 22 May 2012
333(90)
(adopted on 22 May 2012)
ADOPTION OF REVISED PERFORMANCE STANDARDS FOR
SHIPBORNE VOYAGE DATA RECORDERS (VDRs)
RESOLUTION MSC.333(90)
(adopted on 22 May 2012)
ADOPTION OF REVISED PERFORMANCE STANDARDS FOR
SHIPBORNE VOYAGE DATA RECORDERS (VDRs) MSC 90/28/Add.1
Annex 21, page 1
ANNEX 21
RESOLUTION MSC.333(90)
(adopted on 22 May 2012)
RECALLING ALSO resolution A.886(21), by which the Assembly resolved that the function of
adopting performance standards and technical specifications, as well as amendments
thereto shall be performed by the Maritime Safety Committee and/or the Marine Environment
Protection Committee, as appropriate, on behalf of the Organization,
RECALLING FURTHER that, by resolution A.861(20), the Assembly, at its twentieth session,
adopted Performance standards for shipborne voyage data recorders (VDRs), which were
amended by resolution MSC.214(81), adopted by the Committee, at its eighty-first session,
RECOGNIZING the need to revise the performance standards for VDRs to assist in
investigations into casualties,
I:\MSC\90\28-Add-1.doc
RESOLUTION MSC.333(90)
(adopted on 22 May 2012)
ADOPTION OF REVISED PERFORMANCE STANDARDS FOR
MSC 90/28/Add.1 SHIPBORNE VOYAGE DATA RECORDERS (VDRs)
Annex 21, page 2
ANNEX
1 PURPOSE
The purpose of a voyage data recorder (VDR) is to maintain a store, in a secure and
retrievable form, of information concerning the position, movement, physical status,
command and control of a ship over the period leading up to and following an incident having
an impact thereon. Information contained in a VDR should be made available to both the
Administration and the shipowner. This information is for use during any subsequent safety
investigation to identify the cause(s) of the incident.
2 APPLICATION
A VDR with capabilities not inferior to those defined in these performance standards is
required to be fitted to ships of classes defined in SOLAS chapter V, as amended.
3 REFERENCES
4 DEFINITIONS
4.1 Voyage data recorder (VDR) means a complete system, including any items
required to interface with the sources of input signals, their processing and encoding, the
final recording medium, the playback equipment, the power supply and dedicated reserve
power source.
4.2 Signal source means any sensor or device external to the VDR, to which the VDR is
connected and from which it obtains signals and data to be recorded.
4.3 Final recording medium means the items of hardware on which the data is recorded
such that access to any one of them would enable the data to be recovered and played back
by use of suitable equipment. The combination of a fixed recording medium and float-free
recording medium and long-term recording medium, together, is recognized as the final
recording medium.
I:\MSC\90\28-Add-1.doc
RESOLUTION MSC.333(90)
(adopted on 22 May 2012)
ADOPTION OF REVISED PERFORMANCE STANDARDS FOR
SHIPBORNE VOYAGE DATA RECORDERS (VDRs) MSC 90/28/Add.1
Annex 21, page 3
4.4 Fixed recording medium means a part of the final recording medium which is
protected against fire, shock, penetration and a prolonged period on the ocean floor. It is
expected to be recovered from the deck of the ship that has sunk. It has a means of
indicating location.
4.5 Float-free recording medium means a part of the final recording medium which
should float-free after a sinking. It has a means of indicating location.
4.6 Long-term recording medium means a permanently installed part of the Final
Recording Medium. It provides the longest record duration and has a readily accessible
interface for downloading the stored data.
4.7 Playback equipment means any data medium with the playback software,
the operational instructions and any special parts required for connecting a
commercial off-the-shelf laptop computer to the VDR.
4.8 Playback software means a copy of the software program to provide the capability to
download the stored data and play back the information. The software should be compatible
with an operating system available with commercial off-the-shelf laptop computers and where
non-standard or proprietary formats are used for storing the data in the VDR, the software
should convert the stored data into open industry standard formats.
4.9 Dedicated reserve power source means a battery, with suitable automatic charging
arrangements, dedicated solely to the VDR, of sufficient capacity to operate it as required
by 5.4.2.
4.10 Configuration data describes the vessel's equipment, its installation on the vessel
and its relation to the VDR. The storage and playback software uses this data to store the
data record and to convert the data record into information that assists casualty investigation
during playback.
5 OPERATIONAL REQUIREMENTS
5.1 General
5.1.1 The VDR should continuously maintain sequential records of preselected data items
relating to the status and output of the ship's equipment, and command and control of the
ship, referred to in 5.5.
5.1.3 The system should include functions to perform a performance test at any time,
e.g. annually or following repair or maintenance work to the VDR or any signal source
providing data to the VDR. This test may be conducted using the playback equipment and
should ensure that all the required data items are being correctly recorded.
5.1.4 The design and construction, which should be in accordance with the requirements
of resolution A.694(17) and international standards acceptable to the Organization1, should
take special account of the requirements for data security and continuity of operation as
detailed in 5.3 and 5.4.
1
Refer to publication IEC 60945 – Maritime navigation and radiocommunication equipment and systems –
General requirements, methods of testing and required test results.
I:\MSC\90\28-Add-1.doc
RESOLUTION MSC.333(90)
(adopted on 22 May 2012)
ADOPTION OF REVISED PERFORMANCE STANDARDS FOR
MSC 90/28/Add.1 SHIPBORNE VOYAGE DATA RECORDERS (VDRs)
Annex 21, page 4
The fixed recording medium should be installed in a fixed protective capsule which should
meet all of the following requirements:
.2 maintain the recorded data for a period of at least two years following
termination of recording;
The float-free recording medium should be installed in a float-free capsule which should meet
all of the following requirements:
.2 maintain the recorded data for a period of at least six months following
termination of recording;
I:\MSC\90\28-Add-1.doc
RESOLUTION MSC.333(90)
(adopted on 22 May 2012)
ADOPTION OF REVISED PERFORMANCE STANDARDS FOR
SHIPBORNE VOYAGE DATA RECORDERS (VDRs) MSC 90/28/Add.1
Annex 21, page 5
5.3.1 The minimum amount of data items to be recorded by the VDR is specified in 5.5.
Optionally, additional items may be recorded provided that the requirements for the recording
and storage of the specified selections are not compromised.
5.3.2 The equipment should be so designed that, as far as is practical, it is not possible to
manipulate the amount of data being recorded by the VDR, the data itself nor the data which
has already been recorded. Any attempt to interfere with the integrity of the data or the
recording should be recorded.
5.3.3 The recording method should be such that each item of the recorded data is
checked for integrity and an alarm given if a non-correctable error is detected.
5.4.1 The VDR should be capable of operating from the ship's main and emergency
source of electrical power.
5.4.2 If the ship's source of electrical power supply fails, the VDR should continue to
record Bridge Audio (see 5.5.5) from the dedicated reserve power source for a period
of 2 hours. At the end of this 2 hour period all recording should cease automatically.
5.4.3 Recording should be continuous unless terminated in accordance with 5.4.2. The
time for which all stored data items are retained should be at least 30 days/720 hours on the
long-term recording medium and at least 48 hours on the fixed and float-free recording
media. Data items which are older than this may be overwritten with new data.
Date and time, referenced to UTC, should be obtained from a source external to the ship and
an internal clock should be synchronized with valid date and time data. During times of a
loss of the external source, the internal clock should be used. The recording should indicate
which source is in use. The recording method should be such that the timing of all other
recorded data items can be derived on playback with a resolution and continuity sufficient to
reconstruct the history of the incident in detail.
Latitude and longitude, and the datum used, should be derived from an electronic
position-fixing system (EPFS). The recording should ensure that the identity and status of
the EPFS can always be determined on playback.
I:\MSC\90\28-Add-1.doc
RESOLUTION MSC.333(90)
(adopted on 22 May 2012)
ADOPTION OF REVISED PERFORMANCE STANDARDS FOR
MSC 90/28/Add.1 SHIPBORNE VOYAGE DATA RECORDERS (VDRs)
Annex 21, page 6
5.5.3 Speed
Speed through the water and speed over the ground, including an indication of which it is,
derived from the ship's speed and distance measuring equipment, as required by SOLAS
regulations.
5.5.4 Heading
Microphones should be positioned on the bridge covering all work stations as described in
MSC/Circ.982 so that conversation is recorded. The recording should be such that, on
playback, a normal speaking voice should provide adequate intelligibility while the ship is
performing its normal operations. This performance should be maintained at all work
stations while there is a single audio alarm anywhere on the bridge or any noise, including
noise from faulty equipment or mounting, or wind. This should be achieved through the use
of at least two channels of audio recording. Microphones positioned outside on bridge wings,
should be recorded on at least one additional separate channel.
5.5.7 Radar
The electronic signals of the main displays of both ship's radar installations as required by
SOLAS regulations. The recording method should be such that, on playback, it is possible to
present a faithful replica of the entire radar display that was on view at the time of recording,
albeit within the limitations of any bandwidth compression techniques that are essential to the
working of the VDR.
5.5.8 ECDIS
Where a vessel is fitted with an ECDIS installation, the VDR should record the electronic
signals of the ECDIS display in use at the time as the primary means of navigation.
The recording method should be such that, on playback, it is possible to present a faithful
replica of the entire ECDIS display that was on view at the time of recording, albeit within the
limitations of any bandwidth compression techniques that are essential to the working of the
VDR and in addition the source of the chart data and the version used.
The depth information. This should include, where available, depth under keel, the depth
scale currently being displayed and other status information.
This should include the status of all mandatory alarms on the bridge2 or as received from the
Bridge Alert Management System, if installed, recorded as individually identified alarms.
2
Resolution A.1021(26), Code on Alerts and Indicators, 2009, table 10.1.1.
I:\MSC\90\28-Add-1.doc
RESOLUTION MSC.333(90)
(adopted on 22 May 2012)
ADOPTION OF REVISED PERFORMANCE STANDARDS FOR
SHIPBORNE VOYAGE DATA RECORDERS (VDRs) MSC 90/28/Add.1
Annex 21, page 7
This should include status and settings of heading or track controller, if fitted and indicate the
control station, mode, and power unit(s) in use.
This should include the positions of any engine telegraphs or direct engine/propeller controls
and feedback indications on the bridge, if fitted, including ahead/astern indicators and
indicate the control station in use. This should also include any thrusters if fitted and indicate
the control station in use.
This should include all mandatory status information required to be displayed on the bridge.
This should include all mandatory status information required to be displayed on the bridge.
Where a ship is fitted with hull stress and response monitoring equipment, all the data items
that have been pre-selected within that equipment should be recorded.
Where a ship is fitted with a suitable sensor, wind speed and direction should be recorded,
including its true or relative status.
5.5.17 AIS
In addition to the data items specified in 5.5.1 to 5.5.18, a data block defining the
configuration of the VDR and the sensors to which it is connected should be written into the
final recording medium during commissioning of the VDR. The data block should be
maintained up to date with respect to the vessel installation. It should include details on the
manufacturer, type and version number of a sensor, the identification and location of the
sensor and the interpretation of the sensor data. This configuration data should be
permanently retained in the final recording media and protected from modification other than
by a duly authorized person following any change to the configuration.
Where a ship is fitted with an electronic logbook in accordance with the standards of the
Organization the information from this should be recorded.
I:\MSC\90\28-Add-1.doc
RESOLUTION MSC.333(90)
(adopted on 22 May 2012)
ADOPTION OF REVISED PERFORMANCE STANDARDS FOR
MSC 90/28/Add.1 SHIPBORNE VOYAGE DATA RECORDERS (VDRs)
Annex 21, page 8
6 OPERATION
7 DOCUMENTATION
Information describing the location of the long-term recording medium interface and
instructions describing the means of interfacing with it as referred to in 9 should be provided
in at least the English language. The equipment documentation should include guidance for
the placement of the information and instructions at a prominent position as close to the
long-term recording medium interface as practicable.
8 INTERFACING
Interfacing to the various signal sources required should be in accordance with the relevant
international interface standard, where possible3. Any connection to any item of the ship's
equipment should be such that the operation of that equipment suffers no deterioration, even
if the VDR system develops faults.
The VDR should provide an interface for downloading the stored data and play back the
information to an external computer. The interface should be compatible with an
internationally recognized format, such as Ethernet, USB, FireWire, or equivalent. It should
be possible to perform a download of the recorded data for a user-defined period of time.
9.2.1 A copy of the software program providing the capability to download the stored data
and play back the information onto a connected external laptop computer and for the
playback of the data should be provided for each VDR installation.
9.2.2 The software should be compatible with an operating system available with
commercial-off-the-shelf laptop computers and provided on a portable storage device such
as a CD-ROM, DVD, USB-memory stick, etc.
9.2.3 Instructions for executing the software and for connecting the external laptop
computer to the VDR should be provided.
9.2.4 The portable storage device containing the software, the instructions and any
special (not commercial off-the-shelf) parts necessary for the physical connection of the
external laptop computer, should be stored within the main unit of the VDR.
9.2.5 Where non-standard or proprietary formats are used for storing the data in the VDR,
the software for converting the stored data into open industry standard formats should be
provided on the portable storage device or resident in the VDR.
***
3
Refer to publication IEC 61162 – Maritime navigation and radiocommunication equipment and systems –
Digital interfaces.
I:\MSC\90\28-Add-1.doc
RESOLUTION MSC.333(90)
(adopted on 22 May 2012)
ADOPTION OF REVISED PERFORMANCE STANDARDS FOR
SHIPBORNE VOYAGE DATA RECORDERS (VDRs)