Are fishing vessels required to comply with the Marine Equipment Directive?
Fishing vessels are not mentioned in the MED. They do not need to comply with the requirements of the Merchant Shipping (Marine Equipment) Regulation 1999 and MSN 1734 as amended but may do so. There is no requirement for fishing vessels to change any of their present safety equipment for MED equipment but they may find that only MED approved versions are available. • Can fishing vessels use MED wheelmarked equipment? Fishing vessels can use equipment approved by the MED standard, this is identified by the Ships wheel mark issued by any EU notified body as part of their safety equipment. All MED equipment will be of an equivalent standard to SOLAS marked equipment. • Can fishing vessels use MED marked equipment as PPE? MED equipment is not designed to fulfil the role of PPE. Equipment approved to the PPE Directive should bear the bear the CE mark and comply with the standards listed in Annex 1 MSN 1731. PPE is required for day to day use. Safety equipment is for use only in emergency s
