UK Marine Mark

Marine Equipment UK Conformity Assessment is the UK product marking requirement that will be needed for products being placed on the market in the United Kingdom, substituting the EU Wheelmarking requirements for products previously falling within the scope of the EU Marine Equipment Directive.

Marine Equipment UK Conformity will be used to replace the wheelmarking requirements for Marine products listed within MSN 1874 Amendment 4 being placed on the GB market from the 1st January 2021.

On 18 December 2020, the UK’s Maritime and Coastguard Agency released MSN 1874 Amendment 4, Marine Equipment - United Kingdom conformity assessment procedures for marine equipment, to provide technical information and guidance about the procedures for obtaining type approval in conformity with the UK Merchant Shipping Regulations after the transition period.

View MSN 1874(M+F) Amendment 4: Marine directive, other approval and standards

GOVERNMENT GUIDANCE MAIN POINTS

The following timeline provides information on the key dates, including the requirements for approving Marine equipment for the UK market:

Other points to note:

• UK Marine mark will not be recognised in the EU or EEA.
• For Northern Ireland, either the Wheelmark or the UK Marine mark will be required.
• UK Market Conformity Assessment Bodies have been designated since 1 January 2021
• Following approval from a UK Market Conformity Assessment Body, a manufacturer will be able to affix the UK Conformity Mark for marine in Great Britain, or in Northern Ireland.

HOW DOES THIS NEW UK PROCESS AFFECT YOU?

From 1 January 2021 equipment can be placed on the UK Market using the following approval routes:

1. Marine equipment holding UK conformity approval granted by one or more UK Market Conformity Assessment Bodies, bearing the UK conformity mark for marine equipment and otherwise compliant with the UK Regulations;
2. Until 1 January 2023, marine equipment holding MED conformity approval granted by one or more EEA Notified Bodies, bearing the MED conformity mark (wheelmark) and otherwise compliant with the MED;
3. Marine equipment in the Annex of the latest MSN 1874, approved by the US Coast Guard under the UK-US MRA (USA. No.4 (2019)), accompanied by a US declaration of conformity and affixed with the UK conformity mark.

WILL YOU NEED TO RE-LABEL ALL YOUR PRODUCTS WITH THE UK CONFORMITY MARK FOR MARINE

If your device is Wheelmarked under the MED, you can continue place your product in the market in the UK until 31 December 2022, there will not be any immediate need to re-label.

The UK Government guidance suggests that manufacturers should now be engaging with UK Market Conformity Assessment Bodies as required even with the transitional period of acceptance of CE marking and Wheel marking.

Please note that the requirements differ for Northern Ireland:

• The UK conformity assessment procedures apply for all UK approved equipment manufactured or installed on board UK ships in Northern Ireland, including UK ships with their home port in Northern Ireland.
• The Marine Equipment Directive will continue to have effect for MED approved equipment in Northern Ireland.

WHY CHOOSE TÜV SÜD FOR MARINE EQUIPMENT UK CONFORMITY ASSESSMENT?

With our TÜV SÜD Danmark Notified Body and TÜV SÜD BABT operating as a UK Market Conformity Assessment Body, our team will be able to offer both CE marking and the UK Conformity Mark for Marine.

Please note, this information is based on current guidance. As the political and trade negotiations continue between the UK Government and the EU, there may be further changes to our current understanding. TÜV SÜD will continue to keep you informed on any changes and how it may affect you.