Shipping Circulars
No. 9 of 2006

24 Apr 2006

Applicable to:Shipowners, shipmanagers, shipping-agents, masters and officers of Singapore ships

This circular is to inform of the requirement for the Voyage Data Recorder (VDR) or the Simplified Voyage Data Recorder (S-VDR) to be subjected to an annual performance test.

This circular is to bring to your attention that the Voyage Data Recorder (VDR), including the Simplified Voyage Data Recorder (S-VDR), required to be fitted on board the ship by Regulation 20 (Voyage Data Recorders) of Chapter V of SOLAS 74 is subjected to an annual performance test.

2.This requirement is stipulated in Regulation 18.8 (Approval, surveys and performance standards of navigational systems and equipment and voyage data recorder) of Chapter V of SOLAS 74; which states:
"The voyage data recorder system, including all sensors, shall be subjected to an annual performance test. The test shall be conducted by an approved testing or servicing facility to verify the accuracy, duration and recoverability of the recorded data. In addition, tests and inspections shall be conducted to determine the serviceability of all protective enclosures and devices fitted to aid location. A copy of the certificate of compliance issued by the testing facility, stating the date of compliance and the applicable performance standards, shall be retained on board the ship."

3.The approved testing or servicing facility to carry out the performance test shall be the facility of the manufacturer of the VDR (or S-VDR) or its authorised testing or servicing facility. In the latter case, the authorised testing or servicing facility shall be subjected to the acceptance of any one of the nine Classification Societies recognised by MPA.

4.Shipowners, shipmanagers, shipping-agents, masters and officers of Singapore ships, and in particular, Companies, as defined in SOLAS Regulation IX/1.2, are to take note of the above requirement to carry out the annual performance test and ensure that they have a list of testing or servicing facilities approved by the manufacturer of the VDR (or S-VDR) fitted on their ships or that they have special arrangements with the manufacturer for the annual performance test to be carried out.

5.Any queries relating to this circular should be directed to Mr. Tan Leong Beng at Tel No. 6375 6207.

KHONG SHEN PING
DIRECTOR OF MARINE
MARITIME AND PORT AUTHORITY OF SINGAPORE