4 Definitions
Clasification Society 2024 - Version 9.40
Statutory Documents - IMO Publications and Documents - Resolutions - Maritime Safety Committee - Resolution MSC.333(90) – Adoption of Revised Performance Standards for Shipborne Voyage Data Recorders (VDRs) – (Adopted on 22 May 2012)This Resolution applies to VDRs installed on or after 01 July 2014. - Annex – Recommendation on Performance Standards for Shipborne Voyage Data Recorders (VDRs) - 4 Definitions

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.

  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.

Parent topic: Annex – Recommendation on Performance Standards for Shipborne Voyage Data Recorders (VDRs)
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