EMDM - European Maritime Data Management
Overview
Background & policy context:
The EMDM project responds to the challenge of safe and secure maritime transport development in Europe as part of an intermodal system. The safety of maritime transport would be improved by a better knowledge and analysis of incidents and accidents.
It is over a decade since International Maritime Organisation (IMO) adopted the Voyage Data Recorder (VDR) performance standard which was formulated to be deliverable by and compatible with the technology available at the time. Technological advances over the last 10 years mean that VDR could and should now be required to deliver more for the investment involved.
Objectives:
EMDM aimed to study and develop new applications, functionalities and proposals for specifications and standards for enhanced, interactive VDRs (Voyage Data Recorders) and electronic logbooks (ELBs) for maritime transport. This would enable a better and more objective analysis of the causes of incidents and accidents in European waters, leading to an improvement in maritime safety.
Research focused on the development of low acquisition and exploitation cost VDRs and specific interfaces for retrofitting VDRs on existing ships. New VDR functionalities are being developed with interactive links to existing systems such as the ELB, the AIS or other security devices.
Structural stress monitoring, coupling of VDRs to the electronic logbooks, the integration of other electronic navigational systems were among the functionalities addressed by the project.
Methodology:
The EMDM consortium focused on the general improvement of VDRs and Electronic Logbooks regarding their functionalities and specifications, and on the means of improving safety on the sea thanks to these technologies.
This led to the following research and development activities within the project:
- Improvement of standards and specifications for VDRs and for Electronic Logbook,
- Retrofitting of VDRs on existing ships of all sizes,
- Studies of new applications and development of new functionalities for VDRs,
- Development concepts and procedures for the routine use of the information obtained in safely operating vessels and managing shipping,
- Identification and Assessment of possible new applications for Electronic Logbook.
Specific scientific and technical tasks were as follows:
- Standardisation draft for VDR on recording and storing of data and on the access to the data,
- Standardisation draft for Electronic Logbook,
- A software for routine analysis of VDR data
- A low-cost VDR
- S-VDR interfaces with other electronic devices on board, notably with the ECDIS system,
- Enhanced Electronic Logbook Features using VDR data,
- A functionality for VDR which will lead to a reduction in on-board cabling and installation requirements,
- Proposal for future applications of Electronic Logbook and VDR,
- Advanced Knowledge for ship safety, crew training and ship manoeuvring.
Demonstration and Testing activities were also carried out on:
- The retrofitting of VDR on existing ships with different equipment;
- The installation of an integrated ECDIS/VDR Prototype;
- The Advanced Logbook.
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