Shipping’s version of the black box, the voyage data recorder (VDR), is set for a major upgrade to keep pace with electronic data's increasing importance in accident investigations.
There are several changes being considered, Solis Marine Consultants' Singapore-based representative Duncan Campbell told a specialist London conference last week.
These include the IMO looking at improving the quality of bridge and other onboard audio recordings, extending the current data backup time of 48 hours and more frequent electronic chart display information system (Ecdis) and radar screenshots recordings.
