1 The annual testing of VDR/S-VDR required by SOLAS regulation V/20
should be carried out by the manufacturer or a person authorized by the
manufacturer.
2 The examination of the VDR/S-VDR installation should include:
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.1 confirmation that no alarms are present prior to commencement of the
test;
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.2 confirmation that when the external power is removed the power supply
alarm is activated, the equipment continues to operate for at least 1 h
55 min and automatically stops recording no later than 2 h 5 min after
the external power is removed;
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.3 confirmation that the acoustic beacon is functional using the
appropriate manufacturer's test equipment or by the substitution of a
certified fully operational unit;
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.4 confirmation that the overall condition of the equipment is
satisfactory and that any batteries within the equipment (acoustic
beacon and power supply) are in date;
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.5 confirmation that accurate maintenance records of the VDR are
available;
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.6 confirmation that the items to be recorded, specifically those data
items available and required to be recorded at the time of original
commissioning as defined in resolution A.861(20) and resolution
MSC.163(78) for VDR and S-VDR, respectively, are satisfactorily stored
for the duration of the 12-hour recording period;
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.7 confirmation that the capsule float-free arrangements, where required
or fitted, are satisfactory as originally accepted at commissioning; and
that any battery, release mechanism or other datable items are within
their expiry date. In addition, for float-free capsules approved in
accordance with resolution MSC.333(90), the examination should be
carried out in accordance with MSC.1/Circ.1040/Rev.1; and
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.8 confirmation that the equipment is restored to normal operation mode
following completion of the tests.
3 The manufacturer must complete a review, record any changes and issue
the completed test report within 45 days. To accommodate performance checks to align
with the appropriate survey under the Harmonized System of Survey and Certification
(HSSC), the annual performance check may be carried out up to 3 months before the
due date for a passenger ship and -/+ 3 months of the due date for a cargo ship (the
maximum period between subsequent checks is, therefore, 15 months for passenger
ships and 18 months for cargo ships, unless either certificate has been extended as
permitted by SOLAS regulation I/14, in which case a similar extension may be
granted).
4 The annual test should be recorded in the form of the model test report
given in the appendix. If the language used is neither English nor French nor
Spanish, the text should include a translation into one of these languages.