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Showing posts from May, 2014

Voyage Data Recorder

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VOYAGE DATA RECORDER VDR is a data recording system designed for all vessels required to comply with IMO international convention SOLAS. It collects data from various sensors on board the vessel. It then digitizes, compresses and stores this information in an externally mounted protective storage unit. Protective storage unit is temper proof unit designed to withstand the extreme shock, impact, pressure and heat which could be associated with a marine incident.          The protective storage unit may be in a retrievable fixed unit or free float unit when the ship meets in a marine accident. The last 12 hours of stored data in the protected unit can be recovered and replayed by the authorities or ship owners for incident investigation. Although the primary purpose of VDR is for an accident investigation however there can be other uses of recorded data for preventive maintenance.        Simplified voyage data recorder (S-VDR) as defined by the requirement of IMO performance stand

Difference between conventional and open container ships

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Difference between open top design and conventional design of Container ships are:- 1. Cargo access --        Cargo holds are accessible for the crew through lashing bridges and inclined ladders at both ends of a container bay. These structures can be entered from main deck and from alleyways next to the hold. 2. Ventilation --      The ventilation capacity is at least two air charges per hour based on the empty hold criteria. These mechanical system work either by extraction from the bottom of the hold by means of exhaust ventilation or with natural exhaust generated by a supply ventilator. The air flow on open top ships is affected by air entering through the open holds. Due to open structure, gases lighter than air can disappear even without mechanical ventilation. 3. Bilge pumps ---      Open top container ships are equivalent with higher capacity bilge pumps in order to remove green water shipped in seagoing condition and rain. At least three pumps are provided. At lea