When VDR Data Works For You, Not Against You
VDR incident investigation is not a theoretical risk. Every VDR records continuously, and every…
Insights
Practical insights on VDR audits, SMS management, SIRE 2.0, vetting prep, and HSEQ compliance — written by Capt. Gaurav Khanna, Master Mariner and Founder of Vraga Marine Services.
Read MoreWhen VDR Data Works For You, Not Against You
Tug Bollard Pull, Ship Fittings, and the Conversation That Doesn’t Happen
The Master Pilot Exchange has a box for tug bollard pull. In most cases…
The Master Pilot Exchange: What the VDR Hears, and What Most Ships Leave Unsaid
During a recent VDR audit, I reviewed the port approach and berthing of a…
The Port Approach Is Already on Film. Most Managers Don’t Know It.
Most VDR audits begin and end with a compliance requirement. A SIRE inspection is…
SOLAS II-1/3-13: What Ship Managers Need to Know About the New Lifting Appliance Requirements
The new SOLAS lifting appliances regulation 2026 — SOLAS Regulation II-1/3-13 — came into…
The Radar Log Says Done. The VDR Says Otherwise.
The radar performance monitor ship check is one of the most consistently recorded entries…
Passage Planning Mistakes Ships Make — And What the VDR Reveals
I have reviewed VDR data from vessels approaching complex port entrances where the planned…
Ghost Fix: What the Bridge Team Does When the Auditor Has Gone Home
I have reviewed hundreds of hours of VDR data. One pattern shows up more…
VDR Navigational Audits: What They Are, Why They Matter, and When to Do One
VDR navigational audit programmes exist because of a simple truth I learned in eighteen…
How a VDR Navigational Audit Works — A Step-by-Step Guide for Ship Managers
I am often asked by ship managers and owners how VDR audits work. Not…