Richtlijn 1996/98 - Uitrusting van zeeschepen

It lays down rules to ensure the safety and quality of marine equipment carried on board ships flying the flags of EU countries.

These rules increase safety on board, contribute to tackling marine pollution and seek to ensure the free movement of marine equipment within the EU's internal market.

This Directive applies to equipment for use:

EU countries appoint bodies responsible for assessing the conformity of marine equipment. This assessment aims to ensure the quality of the equipment before it is placed on the market and when it is placed on board;

Equipment conforming to European standards must bear a mark.

Where a vessel, which is to be transferred to the register of an EU country is not registered in the EU, the EU country must inspect the actual condition of the equipment and whether it complies with EU standards.

If a piece of equipment risks compromising the health and/or safety of the crew or passengers, or damaging the marine environment, the EU country responsible must withdraw it from the market and prohibit or restrict its use.

Marine equipment requires international testing standards to be adopted. In cases where international organisations do not adopt standards within a reasonable timescale, EU standards may be applied.