The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) has issued a shipping circular No. 5 of 2024 regarding the Voyage Data Recorder (VDR/S-VDR) and casualty investigations.
This circular was published on 31 May 2024.
Mandatory Installation: VDR/S-VDR installation is required for casualty investigations, with performance standards specified:
- Post-1 July 2014 installations must meet Resolution MSC.333(90).
- Pre-1 July 2014 installations must meet the annex to IMO Resolution A.861(20) and MSC.214(81).
- S-VDRs must meet IMO Resolution MSC.163(78).
Data Preservation: Parties must preserve and collect VDR/S-VDR data promptly after a casualty and submit it to MPA.
Master’s Responsibilities: Masters must ensure timely data collection and preservation, following MSC/Circ.1024 (attached to the circular) guidelines.
Safety Management System (SMS): Data preservation procedures should be included in the vessel's SMS, and crew must be familiar with VDR/S-VDR operations.
Manufacturer’s Instructions: Masters should follow manufacturer instructions for data recovery, potentially involving authorized technicians.
Abandonment Protocol: If abandoning ship, the Master or officer should retrieve the VDR/S-VDR module if possible.
Data Copy Requirement: A complete copy of VDR/S-VDR data must be saved and sent to MPA or shared via cloud drive.
Reporting Requirements: Marine casualties and incidents must be reported per the relevant Shipping Circular, currently No. 2 of 2024.
Training: VDR/S-VDR procedures should be part of emergency and abandon ship drills.
Malfunction Protocol: Promptly arrange for repairs at the current or next port and report malfunctions to MPA and port state authorities.
Spare Parts: Ships should carry critical spares for VDR/S-VDRs as recommended by the manufacturer, and include preservation procedures in the SMS.
![](https://www.marineregulations.news/content/images/2024/03/singapore-issues-circular-on-reporting-of-marine-casualities-and-incidents.webp)
For more information, please see the document below (available only to subscribers):
Voyage Data Recorder (VDR/S-VDR) and Casualty Investigations
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