Carnival Retrofits Fleet with VDR Systems

L-3 SAM Electronics has retrofitted Carnival Cruise Lines’ fleet of 24 ships with its Voyage Data Recorder (VDR 4350) system.

L-3 SAM Electronics’ VDR 4350 system provides extended recording time and ECDIS-based onboard and onshore replay features, together with options for remote control and maintenance via SATCOM. The modular Ethernet-based VDR 4350 series provides a comprehensive backup capability for the storage and downloading of recorded data. Other features include extended graphics analysis tools that provide simplified export functions to standard Microsoft Office applications.

“L-3 has been serving Carnival Cruise Lines for many years and we are extremely proud to have successfully completed this major upgrade project,” said Ulrich Weinreuter, president of L-3 Marine Systems International. “For L-3, it is particularly gratifying to contribute to the continuing safety and operational needs of the world’s largest cruise ship fleet.”

Designed to operate as an integral part of state-of-the-art integrated bridge assemblies, VDR 4350 systems are in widespread use aboard vessels of all types and sizes. They are also a key component of L-3 SAM’s NACOS Platinum series currently in service with most leading cruise ship operators. Scalable systems are available in either a console-integrated or cabinet-mounted model.

The major retrofit project was carried out by L-3 SAM’s affiliated company for marine electronics, L-3 G.A. International (L-3 GAI), in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.