New UK Marine certification: ROCKWOOL® Technical Insulation has it covered

Marine products used onboard UK vessels must now carry the Red Ensign mark, which has replaced the EU Wheel mark. Here’s what you need to know.

Since the beginning of 2023, certification of marine equipment used aboard UK vessels has changed. The Marine Equipment Directive (MED) Wheel mark certifications will no longer be recognised (with some exceptions for spares and equipment manufactured before this date). Instead, marine equipment must bear the UK Conformity Mark – the Red Ensign – showing its compliance with Merchant Shipping (Marine Equipment) Regulations 2016 (MER), as amended. This includes marine insulation.

This change has long been anticipated as the result of the UK’s withdrawal from the EU. Here at ROCKWOOL Technical Insulation, we were prepared for the transition. Several ROCKWOOL SeaRox® products manufactured after 1 January 2023 now carry both the Red Ensign and the Wheel mark. These products are therefore certified for use on both UK- and EU-registered vessels.

Frequently asked questions

Why has this change happened now?

Although the UK officially left the EU on 31 January 2020, as part of transition arrangements, EU Wheel mark certification continued to be recognised for marine equipment onboard UK ships until 31 December 2022. The UK marine marking – the Red Ensign – became mandatory on marine equipment manufactured after that date for use onboard UK vessels.

Are there any exceptions to the mandatory Red Ensign marking?

According to the UK government guidance¹, there are exceptions to the requirement for marine equipment used onboard UK ships to bear the Red Ensign mark:

Most relevantly for marine insulation, marine products manufactured before 1 January 2023 with a valid Wheel mark can continue to be placed onboard UK ships. In addition, Wheel marked products already onboard UK vessels can remain onboard for the duration on their operational life, but must then be replaced by products bearing the Red Ensign.

MIN 590 Amendment 5 (M+F) UK Conformity Assessment Procedures for Marine Equipment, Section 2.3.

What does the Red Ensign actually mean?

Under International Maritime Organization (IMO) Conventions, it is the responsibility of a flag administration to ensure that marine equipment, carried by ships flying its flag, meets international standards for design, construction, performance, and testing.

In order to continue to comply with these obligations post-Brexit, the UK implemented the UK conformity assessment procedures to approve marine equipment. The Red Ensign indicates equipment that has gone through this approval process and thus meets international standards.

For example, on vessels covered by IMO Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) regulations, insulation products are covered under the requirements for passive fire protection contained in SOLAS Chapter II-2.

Which ROCKWOOL products are compliant?

SeaRox marine and offshore solutions are a full range of insulation products for the shipbuilding industry. Meeting the most stringent demands for fire safety, and thermal and acoustic insulation, the SeaRox range has been tested according to the latest IMO regulations and certified under the EU Marine Equipment Directive (2014/90/EU). A wide selection of constructions are furthermore approved by all major classification societies as well as the UK marine equipment regulations. Please contact ROCKWOOL Technical Insulation UK for further details.

Rely on the experts. Rely on ROCKWOOL Technical Insulation

As with any change in regulation, there is bound to be a period of adjustment and uncertainty. The experts at ROCKWOOL Technical Insulation are here to help with any questions you may have about ROCKWOOL marine insulation and compliance with the new UK requirements.

We also keep abreast of all updates to IMO and other regulations on passive fire protection, noise reduction, and thermal insulation. Our high-level technical support can help you choose the optimal solution for your specific application, and to secure the necessary documentation.

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