No. 17 of 2008 - FITTING OF A SIMPLIFIED VOYAGE DATA RECORDER (S-VDR) ON REGIONAL PASSENGER FERRIES AND HIGH SPEED CRAFT
Shipping Circulars
No. 17 of 2008
25 Jul 2008
Applicable to: Shipowners, shipmanagers, shipping-agents, masters and officers of Singapore-registered passenger ferries and passenger high speed craft.
This circular is to inform industry of the requirement to fit a Simplified - Voyage Data Recorder (S-VDR), on board passenger ferries and High Speed Passenger Craft operating within Singapore special limits.
Regulation 20 (Voyage Data Recorder) of Chapter V of the Merchant Shipping (Safety Convention) Regulations requires all passenger ships to be fitted with a voyage data recorder (VDR) not later than the first survey on or after 1 Jul 2002.In addition, amendments to the International Code of Safety for High Speed Craft (HSC Code) adopted by resolution MSC.119(74) at the 74th session of the Maritime Safety Committee (MSC) of IMO also require passenger high speed craft to be fitted with a voyage data recorder not11later than 1 Jan 2004.
2.As regional passenger ferries had previously experienced practical difficulties in interfacing VDR with existing equipment on board, MPA had, under the Regulations, granted them interim exemptions from the installation of VDR until more suitable and cost effective alternative solutions could be found. Such exemptions will now be rescinded, but in lieu of a VDR,passenger ferries and passenger high speed craft operating within the special limits will be required to install a simplified voyage data recorder (S-VDR)by the first scheduled dry-docking after 1 Aug 2009 but not later than 1 Aug 2010.
3.Owners and operators of passenger ferries and passenger high speed craft operating within Singapore special limits are urged to install S-VDR well ahead of the scheduled compliance deadlines in view of its importance in investigation and enhancing safety of navigation.
4.VDRs installed on board passenger ferries and passenger high speed craft shall conform to performance standards not inferior to resolution A.861(20) Performance standards for shipborne voyage data recorders (VDRs), as amended by MSC.214(81) and S-VDRs shall meet performance standards not inferior to MSC.163(78) Performance Standards for Shipborne Simplified Voyage Data Recorders (S-VDRs), as amended by MSC.214(81).
5.In connection with this Shipping Circular, please refer to our earlier1Shipping Circular No 9 of 20061dated 24 Apr 2006 and1No 6 of 20071dated 1 Mar 2007 on Annual testing of VDR and S-VDR.
6.Any queries relating to this circular should be addressed to Mr Ang Mui Teck at tel no. 6375-6232 or Capt Mark Heah at tel no. 6375-6214.
KHONG SHEN PING
DIRECTOR OF MARINE
MARITIME AND PORT AUTHORITY OF SINGAPORE