The Recreational Craft Directive - a Description

A New Approach Product Directive. The original directive (referenced 94/25/EC) came into force on June 16th 1998 but an amendment (referenced 2003/44/EC) was recently introduced. The amendment became optional on 1st January 2005 and mandatory on the 1st January 2006.

Scope of Recreational Craft Directive

Recreational Craft from 2.5m up to 24m in length. This includes vessels used for charter / training, kit boats and certain components ie:

•  Ignition-protected equipment for inboard and stern drive engines.
•  Start-in-gear protection devices for outboard motors.
•  Steering wheels, steering mechanisms and cable assemblies.
•  Fuel tanks and fuel hoses.
•  Prefabricated hatches and port lights.

The amended directive brings the following into scope from 1st January 2006:

• Personal Water Craft (PWC or "jet skis" to most people)
• Engine exhaust emissions
• Engine noise emissions

Vessels or components within the scope of the RCD must have a CE marking.

Exclusions from Recreational Craft Directive

There are certain types of vessel excluded from the Directive, including: craft intended solely for racing; canoes; kayaks; pedalos; sailboards; powered surfboards; PWCs (until 1st January 2006); original, and individual replicas of, historical craft designed before 1950, built predominantly with the original materials; experimental craft not subsequently put on the market; craft built for own use, provided they are not sold for a period of five years from completion; commercial and passenger vessels; submersibles; air cushion vehicles; hydrofoils. (For full definitions refer to the Directive).

New or second-hand vessels that were built / put into service / put on the market within the EEA before 16th June 1998 are exempt. Note that second-hand vessels will have to comply if they have not been in service in EEA territories before June 1998.

Responsibility

The Manufacturer / Person / Authorised Community Representative first putting the product on the EU market or into service is responsible for making the vessel compliant.

 

Category		Significant Wave Height	Beaufort Force
A	Ocean	> 4m	> 8
B	Offshore	Up to 4m	Up to 8m
B	Inshore	Up to 2m	Up to 6m
D	Sheltered	Up to 0.3m with temporary capability to withstand 0.5m	Up to 4

Essential Safety Requirements (ESR)

Thirty Essential Safety Requirements are set out in the Directive. Not all ESR may be applicable in some craft. The ESR are intentionally non-prescriptive to allow maximum freedom of design. The ESR are intended to be measured against supporting (harmonised) ISO standards but it can be perfectly legal to apply other standards or methods to prove compliance. It can be difficult to prove equivalence of non-ISO standards/methods without expert help.

A CD-ROM containing all the ISO standards can be purchased from the British Marine Federation. It also comes pacakged with the compliance software, CE-Pro.

Compliance & Documentation

When placed on the market or put into service, craft must be accompanied by a Declaration of Conformity. This certifies that the vessel meets the Essential Safety Requirements (ESR) contained in the Directive.

A Technical Construction File (TCF) describes how the vessel meets the Essential Safety Requirements and must be kept for ten years beyond production of last vessel. This is a large dossier that works through all the applicable standards proving compliance.

The vessel must have an Owners Manual. This has to contain information about the safe operation of the vessel and other prescribed contents. The Declaration of Conformity accompanies the Owners Manual and that is why the manual should stay with the boat when it is transferred.

HPi recommends the RCD compliance software, CE-Pro for compiling all the documentation. A 30% fee discount is offered for users of this software as it makes TCF assessment so much easier and quicker.

Assessment

This is governed by Conformity Assessment Modules. The Modules define what documentation is required and whether a Notified Body is required to verify and certify the boat/paperwork. For a full description of the modules please read the Directive itself but the following summary is far easier to understand. A Notified Body, such as HPi Verification Services, is required to be involved in the following cases:

•  All craft in design category A or B
•  Category C craft longer than 12m
•  Category C craft shorter than 12m that do not apply the stability standard (ISO 12217)
•  All components listed above
•  All craft being CE marked after construction, from 1st January 2006

A Notified Body has no mandatory involvement in any new-build Category D vessel.