ELEMENT S DEFINITIO Mandatory Required information in every record. Fields must be filled in. Essential Data that is considered extremely important for the Vessels Database records. Fields must be filled in whenever possible. Recommended Data that is considered important to the Vessels Database records. Fields should be filled in whenever possible to make the object easier to find. Optional Data that is considered auxiliary to the Vessels Database records. Fields should be filled in whenever possible to make the object easier to find and to enhance the users’ understanding of the object, its history and its content.