Sperry Marine Releases New VDR

Northrop Grumman Corporation's Sperry Marine business unit has released its new Voyage Data Recorder (VDR) Communication Manager software as part of the iFleet suite of optional enhancements for the VoyageMaster VDR system. The VDR Communication Manager permits the VoyageMaster system to transmit packets of telemetry data from ship-to-shore via a communication link. It is designed to work with a variety of satellite services, including Inmarsat-A, Inmarsat-B, Inmarsat-C, Inmarsat-M, Fleet 77 and Fleet 55. To aid in fleet management, shoreside personnel can have automated daily reports -- on the hour, if required -- on data recorded by the VDR, including navigational location and heading, hull stress, bilge levels, tankage, engine status, watertight doors and other shipboard data. When combined with Sperry Marine's optional Office Playback software package, iFleet provides a powerful tool for fleet management. For instance, shoreside engineering staff can assess hull, engine and propeller conditions for performance-based benchmark and trend analysis as well as fuel efficiency management. The unique architecture of the VoyageMaster system, with a built-in hard drive and CD writer, makes it easy to extract VDR data for playback analysis onboard. With an optional VDR playback station, a new crew can use this training tool to review from a library of previous recorded voyages and approaches to ports. The VoyageMaster system is a fully compliant VDR that meets all International Maritime Organization, International Electrotechnical Commission and European Union carriage requirements and specifications. The Sperry Marine system has been type approved by multiple national authorities and classification societies.