Marine Equipment Bearing Regulations and the European Union

The Marine Equipment Regulations (MER) are a set of regulations, which cover the approval of marine equipment placed on UK ships. In order to be approved, equipment must conform to standards and technical requirements. It must also carry the relevant documentation when on board a ship. If the manufacturer is a foreign company, the person responsible for making the equipment available must have an authorised representative on the ground.

To comply with the European Union's obligations under international conventions such as the International Maritime Organization (IMO) Convention, ships must carry certain safety equipment, including navigation lights, radar, and marine radar. These devices must be accompanied by documentation issued by the IMO Member State they are placed on.

This directive is aimed at enhancing the efficiency of marine operations, and improving safety at sea. As such, it makes sense that the European Commission should implement measures to ensure that manufacturers and importers of marine equipment are able to provide their customers with the latest and greatest products. One such measure is the Marine Equipment Conformity Assessment Notice, a piece of guidance to the industry.

As part of the process, the UK introduced a conformity assessment scheme for marine equipment following its departure from the EU. Specifically, this scheme outlines the rules and regulations governing the manufacture, export and import of marine equipment. Manufacturers must adhere to the rules to avoid fines. Likewise, importers must ensure that the imported marine equipment is compliant with the UK's requirements.

While the regulations were a step in the right direction, they still left a lot of ambiguity for the industry. A more efficient procedure for determining compliance with the regulations was implemented by the Merchant Shipping (Marine Equipment) Regulations, which were formally amended in 2016.

There is a lot to take into account when evaluating the merits of the most cited 'trophy'. For example, what is the most effective method to ensure that the product being tested is compliant with the latest safety requirements? And what are the most effective ways to ensure the product's continued reliability?

In the spirit of transparency, the Commission has made its marine equipment testing and certification requirements accessible to the public for free. Technical specifications, testing standards, and other standardized measurements are all available at the Commission's website. Meanwhile, the Commission is considering introducing interim harmonised requirements for marine equipment.

The Irish Marine Equipment Regulations are a more detailed set of regulations on the subject. They outline the obligations of importers, distributors, and other parties involved in the import and sale of marine equipment. Also, these regulations make provision for the notification of conformity assessment bodies. Notifications must contain information on the organisation's cross-border activities, its subcontracting practices, and its negative conformity assessment results.

While the Irish Regulations are a good start, they should be supplemented by the proper use of the Marine Equipment Conformity Assessment Notice. By implementing a clear, well-thought out system, the industry can rest assured that it will be able to continue providing its customers with the best possible service.