Small Craft Survey>Recreational Craft Directive Conformity Assessment>Guide to the Recreational Craft Directive
Scope
The Recreational Craft Directive (RCD) is a directive based on the new and global approach for common trading practices across Europe. The directive sets essential requirements for the design and construction of 'recreational craft', which it defines as "…any craft intended for sport or leisure purposes, regardless of the type or the means of propulsion, with a hull length of 2.5m to 24m…". The Directive applies to pleasure craft, partially completed boats and loose and assembled components. Failure to satisfy the requirements of the directive carries a heavy fine or a prison sentence.
The Directive became available for use from 16 June 1996 and became mandatory from 16 June 1998. As such manufacturers and importers may no longer place pleasure craft and components on the market, which do not comply with the essential requirements of the directive. In addition to these technical requirements, the Directive imposes a requirement on the manufacturer to keep a technical file of all relevant data, to officially state the conformity of his product in a Declaration of Conformity, to affix the CE Marking on the craft and to inform the users about safe use/maintenance through a builder's plate and an owner's manual.
Design and Construction of Craft
Recreational craft intended for sports and leisure purposes, regardless of the means of propulsion, and measuring between 2.5 and 24 metres in hull length, personal watercraft less than 4 metres in length and partly completed recreational craft, whether constructed in or imported into the European Economic Area (EEA), may only be placed on the market in the EEA and put into service for use if they meet the essential safety requirements (ESRs) set out in the directive.
Depending on their design category, recreational craft and personal watercraft will need to satisfy conformity assessment procedures involving a Notified Body. Recreational craft, personal watercraft and the specified components will be required to carry a CE marking. The product must not endanger the safety and health of persons, property or the environment.
Exhaust emissions
The exhaust emission requirements take the form of limits of acceptable emissions of carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons, nitrogen oxides and, in the case of diesel engines, particulates. They also apply to engines placed on the market after 1 January 2005 and also to engines placed on the market after 1 January 2005 that subsequently undergo major modification.
Noise emissions
The noise emission requirements are presented in terms of maximum acceptable sound pressure levels determined from a pass-by test or alternative methods of calculation. They apply to craft placed on the market after 1 January 2005 and also to craft placed on the market after 1 January 2005 that subsequently undergo major conversions.
Other Measures
The new RCD has introduced a method which allows craft already built or imported from outside of the EEA to be assessed to the provisions of the Directive and CE marked by means of Post Construction Assessment (PCA).
Failure to comply with the above requirements will mean that these products may be prohibited from being placed on the market within the EEA, and withdrawn if previously placed on the market.
Summary of the Recreational Craft Directive
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