Abstract from paper submitted by Michael T . Brown (National Transportation Safety Board)

• VDR  Safety Issues

 The installation of VDRs is an important safety issue for all marine operators. Automatic data recording devices provide crucial factual information for accident investigation and play a key role in identifying and addressing causal factors . While it can be argued that the VDR may not be a first line safety tool , such as a life jacket or fire extinguisher , it certainly has great value in ensuring that a vessel is operated safely , that its gear is performing as intended , and that the crews are performing as required by regulation , company policy , and the general rules of “good seamanship”.

• VDR as a Management Tool

The VDR provides the vessel operator and owner with information that can be used to better manage the vessel’s operation.. and provides the owner/operator with a comprehensive record of what occurred in an event , thereby assisting in the event of some tort action . The management benefits derived from installing a VDR system would quickly offset the cost of its installation .