Workboats are crucial in various industries and communities, providing essential services that keep economies moving and support everyday life. These vessels are used for multiple tasks, ranging from emergency services, fishing, open water/Port logistics, and Marine Construction all the way to towing and salvage.

Essentially, workboats are indispensable to various sectors, fostering economic growth, supporting communities, and ensuring the safety and sustainability of vessel crew and local marine environments.

Workboats are also a huge financial investment and are invaluable to their owners, so it’s essential to protect them.

A recent discussion about the waters of the Malacca Strait and how collisions are more frequent due to congestion further highlights the rising need to document operations and incidents correctly.

This is particularly important when a large vessel collides with a smaller craft. Vessels over 3000GRT operate VDRs, but smaller workboat operators are not mandated to carry this type of equipment. If a small boat collides with a tanker, which ship is more likely to provide an order of events? There is a rising trend in the workboats sector currently, where owners and operators are electing to install mini data recorders.

So, what technology is available?

AMI Marine is an expert in interfacing, and we have designed three systems, each a viable option for all vessels operating on either side of the 3000 GRT divide.

First, our IMO-certified X2 series VDR and S-VDR. This system is designed to meet all IMO legal requirements for vessels over 3000 GRT., but it is an option for installation. However, the X2 is a complete VDR system and has a full VDR price range.

Though It’s not legally required for vessels under 3000 GRT to carry data recorders, we have designed the X-VHFR and X-MDR data recorders. These systems are specifically for the smaller vessel industry that falls under 3000 GRT vessel regulations. With a lower price bracket, these mini data recorders have become a sensibly economic option for smaller vessel fleets.

X-VHFR Mini Data Recorder

The X-VHFR is our bestselling mini-data recorder. It Records VHF and bridge audio onto the system memory and can also accommodate the optional 1TB “Grab and Go” removable drive which is easily accessible to this system.

It is designed for the small vessel and workboat industry but additionally works as a land-based recorder too. Harbour and port control offices use this system to analyse VHF communications of ships entering and exiting harbour-controlled entrances.

It monitors AIS data from vessels and stores audio communications, time, and date information along with data playback which includes the whereabouts of other locally situated marine traffic around your particular vessel, and this data can often be critical to investigations following a marine incident.

X-MDR CCTV Marine Data Recorder System

The X-MDR is the higher capacity mini data recorder which offers an optional real-time CCTV system which can accommodate up to 8 cameras. Some in the industry refer to this system as the Dash Camera for smaller vessels!

The X-MDR records VHF, vessel and bridge data, as well as audio and optional CCTV data. It can also capture images from Radar, ECDIS, Chart Plotters, etc. The X-MDR also has a full-colour capacitive touchscreen that shows live data in a user-friendly and intuitive manner.

Float Free Recoverable Capsule – 64GB

Both the X-VHFR and the X-MDR can accommodate any brand of float-free capsule, so long as it is Cospas-Sarsat and MED-approved. As many know, float free capsules combine Emergency Position-Indicating Radio Beacons, otherwise known as an EPIRB. It has been designed in accordance with and complies with the MSC 333(90), IEC61097-2, and IEC61992-1 Ed.2.0 performance standards.

The X-MDR is designed with pleasing aesthetics and ease of maintenance for the ship’s crew and engineers alike.

Why are we different?

Because AMI Marine designs, builds, and installs our own systems, we are expertly placed to offer tailor-made solutions for all types of vessels. We sell both out-of-the-box systems, which are ready to install, and custom-configured systems to meet the individual needs of each respective vessel.

Regardless of your small vessel’s use, we have a data recorder that will suit your needs. Please speak to one of our team members today to find the system that works for you.

[email protected] or call us +44 (0)2380 480 450