VDR is a situation recorder for vessels and performs much like a plane¡¯s ¡°black box.¡± In the aftermath of plane crashes, black boxes have played an instrumental role in helping investigators identify the cause of malfunction. The information recorded by these devices has provided critical data for the development and improvement of airplane systems. While black box installation on airplanes is required by international mandate, vessels, for the most

part, are not equipped with a similar type of recording device, nor are they required to.

In recent years, maritime regulatory committees, such as the International Maritime Organization(IMO), have become aggressive advocates of the mandatory use of VDR.
Maritime organizations all around the world are currently devising an international regulation scheme that would make VDR installation mandatory for all ocean vessels.
Though at its present stage the VDR market is small, it is a market with a tremendous amount of lucrative growth potential. VDR devices, however, should not be considered only as recording devices. They have a broad range of capabilities and may also perform a monitoring function that supplies a constant stream of real-time data regarding the ship¡¯s vital statistics and overall health.
For these reasons, it is easy to see why the VDR system will be an invaluable addition to the vessel industry. In conjunction with L3 Communications, SHI is currently developing a VDR system that will be soon introduced in the international market.