MARINE GUIDANCE NOTE

MGN 178 (M+F)

Market Surveillance of Marine Equipment
Note to Manufacturers, Shipbuilders, Classification Societies, Shipowners, Ship Operators and Managers, Ships Chandlers, Designers and Marine Consultants, Masters and Officers of Merchant Ships and Skippers of Fishing Vessels.

Summary This Guidance Note gives advice to those concerned with the purchase and inspection of marine equipment, which is wheelmarked as a result of the Marine Equipment Directive. It details what to do if such a piece of equipment is found to be faulty and where to report the information.

The Marine Equipment Directive which entered into force by means of the Merchant Shipping (Marine Equipment) Regulations 19991, require that EU flag ships carry safety and pollution prevention equipment approved by any of the bodies notified for the purpose of the Directive (Notified Bodies). These items of equipment are signified by the use of the wheelmark. Market Surveillance has been introduced to allow Member States to monitor their marine equipment markets and check that equipment placed for supply meets the required standards. Market Surveillance does not involve the preproduction type-examination of the product; it only applies to products after they are placed on the market and before they are placed on board a ship. Sample checking of equipment for supply in the UK but not yet placed on board a ship will take place in the following ways: By MCA personnel visiting chandlers, marine equipment suppliers and manufacturers storage facilities to inspect the products available, take details of the label or tally plate in particular to note details of the wheelmark, Notified Body identification number, year of application and all testing standards references. They will also make a general inspection of the product.

By owners, superintendents or masters of vessels reporting to the Maritime and Coastguard Agency any equipment they are offered which they consider does not meet the standards of the Marine Equipment Directive. By ships chandlers or other marine equipment outlets reporting equipment not in compliance with the MED, especially when labels or tally plates are missing or incomplete.

Equipment can be evaluated after installation on board a UK ship providing that only operational performance tests required by the international instruments for safety and/or pollution prevention are conducted and do not duplicate the conformity-assessment procedures already carried out. This aspect of market surveillance will be carried out by: MCA surveyors undertaking safety surveys or general inspections. Owners, superintendents or masters reporting problems with equipment after installation and MCA carrying out follow up inspections. Classification Society surveyors conducting safety surveys on behalf of the MCA and reporting their findings to the MCA who will carry out follow up action.

(1) SI 1999 No 1957

Annexed to this Note, is a form for the aforementioned to complete should they find any failings with wheelmarked equipment in any of the circumstances mentioned. On completion, please send to MCAs Safety Equipment Branch at the address below. MSPP2C Bay 2/17 Maritime and Coastguard Agency Spring Place, 105 Commercial Road Southampton SO15 1EG Tel: 02380 329184 Fax: 02380 329204

March 2001 2

An executive agency of the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions

Annex to MGN 178

MARKET SURVEILLANCE MARINE EQUIPMENT DIRECTIVE Council Directive 96/98/EC as amended by 98/85/EC

NAME ............................................................ DATE ............................................................

ADDRESS

.............................................................. .............................................................. ..............................................................

See footnote 1

PRODUCT INSPECTION
Product Description / Model Item No.

See footnotes 2, 3 and 4

................................................................................. Notified Body No ...............

delete as appropriate

MSN 1734 MED ANNEX A.1 / ...............

Date affixed .............................................

Notified Body Symbol ? Wheelmarked ?

YES / NO YES / NO

Inspection Rating:
Tick appropriate inspection rating

1. GOOD

2. SATISFACTORY

3. POOR

4.UNSATISFACTORY

Comments:

1. 2. 3. 4.

This form can be used for individual or combined inspections. Where product has been approved by a Non MCA Notified Body please append a copy of the certificate if available. Please append reports, where tests have been carried out on inspection. Additional product inspection form to be attached as required.