European shipbuilding classifiers publish uniform standards
The classification societies for shipbuilding recognized by the European Union, the European Union Recognised Organisations (EU RO), have agreed on uniform type tests for approval of special product groups. The results were published on 1st July, 2013 in the “Common Technical and Procedural Conditions for Mutual Recognition of Type Approval Certificates”. That was the first step towards harmonizing type tests – at least at EU level.
After pressure from the European Union, the EU classification societies (e.g., Germanischer Lloyd, Bureau Veritas, Lloyd´s Register) the representatives of non-EU societies (e.g., ABS, CCS, etc.) resident in the EU agreed on harmonizing the type tests. The EU RO product-specific tests are listed according to the products to be certified. Currently, 22 different products such as computers, PLCs, sensors, electric heating cables, terminals, etc listed by EU RO. The required tests for the products differ partially from the standard requirements of the individual classification societies and go even further. It is necessary to check individually which standards must be consulted for approval. The requirements of the individual European classification societies are still applicable and are not superseded by EU RO.
Notified Bodies listed in the EU RO classification societies carry out certification and the certification must be recognized by all EU RO classes listed. Almost all important classification societies are listed there. Important in this context is that the European flag states recognize this certification. In Europe, there are only a few selected countries that have a significant fleet where the ships actually sail under the respective national flag. Those ships that are not approved by or that do not sail under one of the European flags are not affected by the EU RO regulations. A worldwide harmonization of the standards is desired but cannot be expected in the near future.
As long as EU RO certification is not recognized on an international level by all flag states, an additional procedure will be triggered to product certification of the classification societies (e.g., DNV/GL, LR, BV etc.) parallel to this certificate. Nevertheless, it is still worthwhile today to partially carry our EU RO certification.
Phoenix Testlab is happy to inform you on which parts of the EU RO regulations are essential and when it is worth it for you.
