Nautical Wing Circular No.NT/NAV/01/2011

Sub:- Installation of Simplified Voyage Data Recorder (SVDR) on Indian Passenger Vessels and Cargo Vessels plying on the coast of India

1. As per provisions of SOLAS Voyage Data Recorder (VDR) was made a mandatory requirement on all Indian vessels on specified trade vide N T Wing Circular No.NT/NAV/01/2006, dated 22nd March 2006 (a). In addition a float free requirement was incorporated in the VDR fitted on Indian ships to facilitate easy recovery.
2. Subsequently vide NT/NAV/01/2009 dated 8th April 2009 (b) the cut of date for requirement of fitting VDR with float free device was relaxed.
3. It has now been decided that it is important to have VDR/SVDR on vessel to facilitate investigation in the aftermath of casualty even such vessels are not on international trade.
4. Accordingly in addition to the categories covered under circular (a) and (b) above are now required to be fitted on the following categories of vessels plying solely on the coast of India.
   1. All passenger ships up to 500 passenger carrying capacity, except
   2. Passenger vessels carrying less then 50 passengers and plying only during day light hours.
   3. All cargo vessels or any other Special Purpose Ships (SPS), Dredgers and Off Shore Vessels (OSV) above 3000GT plying on the coast of India.
5. The said SVDR is required to comply with the IMO performance standards and should have a float free capsule.
6. Notwithstanding anything contained above, vessels of type as in paragraph 4.1 & 4.2 above built on or acquired on or after 01-07-2011 must be fitted with SVDR with float free capsule.
7. This circular comes in effect at 1st annual Safety Equipment Survey of the vessel on or after 01-01-2011.

This issues with the approval of the Director General of shipping.

Sd/-

(Capt. P. Mishra)

Dy. Nautical Advisor-Cum-Sr.DDG (Tech)