CE Marking Your Marine Craft for EU Territories
Are you thinking about buying a boat from abroad and importing it to the UK? If you are, you should make sure that the boat you're buying meets the standards of the EU based on the Recreational Craft Directive. Imagine spending a lot of money on a boat and shipping it to the UK, only to find out that it doesn't meet the requirements and can't be legally owned.
To prevent problems like this, you need to make sure that the boat you're going to buy meets the standards set forth by the European Commission. The EC has come up with several Directives that cover different types of products that enter the European Economic Area. When these products conform to the standards of the EC, they are given a CE marking, which means that they are approved for use in the European community. For the boat that you're going to buy, the Recreational Craft Directive is what applies and it is important you know all about it.
Recreational Craft Directive:
The Recreational Craft Directive is legislation that was created by the European Commission in the 90s and sets forth standards regarding construction and stability that boats have to conform to. Amenities such as fuel, electronics, engine power, and even the emissions, are all expected to meet these standards. If a craft is unable to meet these standards, it has to be corrected or else it will be deemed illegal to own.
For Professional Boat Builders:
If a craft is made in the EU, it still has to be CE marked, and for small crafts, the builders themselves can self-certify it. It is still recommended though that builders hire Recreational Craft Directive consultants to help them out as CE marking can be a long and tiring process. Hiring RCD consultants can also assure you that there are no mistakes made in terms of compliance.
For Boat Buyers:
When you're buying a brand-new fully-fitted boat, the Recreational Craft Directive states that the builder has to show you the CE plate, which means that the boat has been approved. However, when you're buying a boat shell that you want to fit out, you become the builder of the boat and the responsibility rests on you to have it CE marked. If it's a pre-owned boat you're buying, the seller has to give you the RCD papers after purchase—boats that were made before RCD came into effect don't need certification.
The Recreational Craft Directive status of the boat is very important, so keep the documents safe because you're going to need it when you want to sell your boat. For more information, you can visit britishmarine.co.uk/what_we_do/technical/recreational_craft_directive.aspx.
To prevent problems like this, you need to make sure that the boat you're going to buy meets the standards set forth by the European Commission. The EC has come up with several Directives that cover different types of products that enter the European Economic Area. When these products conform to the standards of the EC, they are given a CE marking, which means that they are approved for use in the European community. For the boat that you're going to buy, the Recreational Craft Directive is what applies and it is important you know all about it.
Recreational Craft Directive:
The Recreational Craft Directive is legislation that was created by the European Commission in the 90s and sets forth standards regarding construction and stability that boats have to conform to. Amenities such as fuel, electronics, engine power, and even the emissions, are all expected to meet these standards. If a craft is unable to meet these standards, it has to be corrected or else it will be deemed illegal to own.
For Professional Boat Builders:
If a craft is made in the EU, it still has to be CE marked, and for small crafts, the builders themselves can self-certify it. It is still recommended though that builders hire Recreational Craft Directive consultants to help them out as CE marking can be a long and tiring process. Hiring RCD consultants can also assure you that there are no mistakes made in terms of compliance.
For Boat Buyers:
When you're buying a brand-new fully-fitted boat, the Recreational Craft Directive states that the builder has to show you the CE plate, which means that the boat has been approved. However, when you're buying a boat shell that you want to fit out, you become the builder of the boat and the responsibility rests on you to have it CE marked. If it's a pre-owned boat you're buying, the seller has to give you the RCD papers after purchase—boats that were made before RCD came into effect don't need certification.
The Recreational Craft Directive status of the boat is very important, so keep the documents safe because you're going to need it when you want to sell your boat. For more information, you can visit britishmarine.co.uk/what_we_do/technical/recreational_craft_directive.aspx.
