The Kelvin Hughes NDR-2002 is designed to exceed the IMO Performance Standard A.861 (20) for Shipborne Voyage Data Recorders (VDR) and IEC 61996, in carriage requirements. The VDR collects data from various sensors on board the ship and stores the information digitally, in an externally mounted Crash Survivable Module (CSM). The CSM is a tamper-proof unit designed to withstand the extreme shock, impact, pressure and heat, which could be associated with a maritime incident. The CSM may be retrieved from the vessel and the stored data replayed by the authorities for investigative purposes.

Kelvin Hughes has been awarded type approval for its NDR 2002 Voyage Data Recorder (VDR). The type approval includes two different crash survival modules (CSM), and has been awarded by QINETIQ, formerly DERA.

The type approval is unique as Kelvin Hughes is the only company offering two crash survival modules with type approval in its VDR. One is manufactured by L3, the other by Smiths Aerospace, of which Kelvin Hughes is the marine systems business. Offering two crash survival modules allows Kelvin Hughes greater flexibility and guarantees product availability for its customers.

The NDR 2002 has one of the smallest Data Acquisition Unit on the market, a removable white box that records data for post-voyage analysis and in shore trianing, and the lightest CSM available.

In addition the type approved VDR includes twelve microphones, both internal and waterproof external microphones, developed by Kelvin Hughes This is the greatest number of any system commercially available. The Smiths CSM also possesses a memory capacity of 4.0 gigabytes, more than twice as much as its competitors, and this has been included in its type approval.

The type approved NDR 2002 comes complete with multiple video inputs, two VHF inputs (both with RX and TX) and has also a unique approved data interface unit allowing flexible interconnections.

From 1st July this year, the SOLAS Convention will require all existing RO-RO ferries with international trading patterns to have a VDR installed on or by their first survey after that date. In addition, new vessels whose keels are laid on or after 1st July 2002 of over 3,000 registered gross tonnes will also be obliged to carry a VDR. Passenger ships must comply by 1st January 2004.

Please contact us so that we may accompany you successfully in working out your particular navigational solution.