UK - marine equipment certification (MER)

Background:

• Before the UK withdrew from the EU, its regulatory regime relied on the implementation of the EU’s marine equipment directive (2014/90/EU).
• The UK left the EU on 31 January 2020 with an agreement which included a transition period. During this transition period, the Marine Equipment Directive (MED) and other EU legislation will continue to apply to the UK. However, the MED will no longer apply after the transition period has ended.
• To allow businesses time to adjust, MED-approved equipment can continue to be placed on UK ships until 1 January 2023.
• The MCA has implemented its own regulations to establish UK conformity assessment procedures for certification of marine equipment.

UK Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) has provisionally approved DNV UK Ltd. (0097) as a UK Approved Body for the approval of marine equipment according to the Merchant Shipping (Marine Equipment) Regulations (MER) 2016 as amended.

As result the DNV can provide UK marine equipment conformity assessment procedures for all modules covering the full scope of product categories:

• Lifesaving Appliances 
• Marine Pollution Prevention Equipment 
• Fire Protection Equipment 
• Navigation Equipment 
• Radiocommunications Equipment 
• Navigation Lights 
• Self-contained compressed-air operated breathing apparatus for entry and work in gas-filled space 
• Water level detectors

Equipment manufactured after 31 December 2022 that shall be placed onboard ships with UK flag need to bear the Red Ensign Mark indicating compliance with the MER. This compliance includes approval of the equipment in question by an UK Approved Body.

DNV is aware about the short time left until the MER certification requirement becomes mandatory.

Any further applications of:

1. equipment already MED certified by DNV
2. equipment MED certified by other EU notified body
3. equipment currently neither certified by DNV nor any other UK or EU approved body

are welcome.

For products mentioned in (1.) DNV may provide a streamlined certification process. For products in (2.) and (3.) the default certification process needs to be applied. Due to the approaching deadline and the high number of applications received, DNV currently is not always able to complete certification acc. to MER until 31 December 2022. Our experts and support staff in central units and the field organization are doing their utmost to satisfy the needs of the industry. DNV kindly asks for understanding, if – especially in the next weeks to come – service delivery will not always be according to expectations. This is caused by the bottleneck situation the whole industry is facing at the moment.

References to UK regulations:

• Merchant Shipping (Marine Equipment) Regulations 2016 SI 2016/1025
  This regulation implements Directive 2014/90/EU on marine equipment, which provides for the uniform application of international standards for equipment placed on ships registered in the European Union and the enforcement of those standards. This is achieved in the UK by requiring equipment placed on board UK ships to comply with international design, construction and performance standards.
• As amended by the Merchant Shipping Regulations 2019 SI 2019/470
  The purpose of these regulations is to ensure the UK can continue to comply with its international obligations by applying international standards to marine equipment placed on UK ships and enforcing those standards.
• Merchant Shipping (Marine Equipment) (Amendment) (UK and US Mutual Recognition Agreement) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 SI 2019/1304
  The agreement between the UK, encompassing Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and the USA on the Mutual Recognition of Certificates of Conformity for Marine Equipment.
• MIN 590 Amendment 5 (M+F) – UK conformity assessment procedures for marine equipment
  This notice updates key information regarding the UK’s marine equipment conformity assessment regime, including in relation to the end of the ‘standstill’ period on 31 December 2022, after which date EU approved marine equipment will no longer be able to be placed on board UK vessels (with the exception of ‘spares’, and equipment manufactured before 1 January 2023). This notice provides important updates and outlines key exceptions to that. It also provides additional guidance to industry in preparation for that 1 January 2023 date.
• Merchant Shipping Notice MSN 1874 (M+F) Amendment 6
  This notice gives technical information and guidance on the procedures for obtaining type approval in conformity with the regulations. It also gives information regarding the UK’s policy for enforcing these requirements, and other standards to be applied to equipment on board UK ships.

Annex I set out in full the design, construction and performance requirements and testing standards for marine equipment to which approval by an approved body is required in accordance with regulation 5.

FAQs: