Marine safety equipment supplier Pamarine launched its Blu Veritas Voyage Data Recorder (VDR). Similar to black boxes fitted on the aircraft, the Voyage Data Recorder collects data on board vessels so that it can be examined in the event of a shipping accident.
With the launch of the Blu Veritas Voyage Data Recorder, the company plans to expand its global distribution footprint to Brazil, Greece, Norway, Korea and Australia.
The Blu Veritas VDR is designed in accordance to the requirements specified in IMO A.861 (20), and fully complies with standards as outlined under IEC 61996, IEC 60945 and IEC 61996-2. Its unique features include:
1. An optional removable memory stick to facilitate data archiving and retrieval.
2. Memory capacity of 20GB
3. An optional customized CCTV to be integrated with the voyage data recorder
The company saw an opportunity in the market back in 2002 when the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) ruled that all vessels are mandated to be affixed with a VDR to track the navigational activities on board the vessel as part of maritime safety regulations.
Tapping on SPRING’s Technology Innovation Programme, the company invested more than S$1 million over three years to develop the product from scratch. Pamarine also tapped on SPRING’s Marine Capability Development Programme to develop the VDR to be certified for use by international marine classification society Det Norske Veritas.
Marking the product’s first commercialization milestone, Pamarine signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with five ferry operators to install VDR on their fleets. The ferry operators are Batam Fast Ferry Pte Ltd, Berlian Ferries Pte Ltd, Bintan Resort Ferries Pte Ltd, Indo Falcon Shipping & Travel Pte Ltd and Penguin Ferry Services Pte Ltd.
While it has been mandatory for all new ships to have VDR installed since July 2002, older vessels constructed before 1 July 2002 have now until 1 July 2010 to have VDR installed. Moving forward, Pamarine is also targeting major ship owners, operators and management that have yet to have SVDR installed.