Marine Equipment Directive 2014/90/EU Market Surveillance and Reporting

The Directorate reminds all concerned of the implementation of Directive 2014/90/EU on Marine Equipment (hereinafter referred to as the “MED”) as well as Merchant Shipping Notices 153 and 145 on compliance with the MED. It is recalled that the latter, inter alia, provides that recognised organisations shall inform this Directorate in cases where it is suspected that MED equipment placed on board a Maltese ship is not compliant with the applicable requirements.

It is brought to the attention of all concerned that market surveillance also includes activities carried out in the course of the Directorate’s recognised organisations auditing and oversight programme with respect to compliance with the MED of equipment placed on board.

Marine equipment is required to be evaluated after installation on board a Maltese ship, both by carrying out documentary checks related to the equipment, as well as through physical checks, particularly when carrying out operational performance tests required by the IMO Conventions for safety and pollution prevention equipment (SOLAS, COLREG and MARPOL). The checking of equipment shall be carried out by:

–  Recognised Organisations when conducting statutory surveys on behalf of the Maltese Administration;

–  Flag state inspectors when conducting flag State inspections on board Maltese ships;

–  Owners, masters, charterers, and owners’ representatives reporting problems encountered with equipment placed on board Maltese ships.

All concerned shall notify this Directorate in all cases where equipment falling withing the scope of the MED, is suspected of not meeting the applicable standards or otherwise does not comply with the MED, especially in cases where the Wheelmark is missing or when the Declaration of Conformity or Notified Body details are not available, incomplete or otherwise not valid.