Definition
Directive 2014/90/EU — the Marine Equipment Directive, or MED — applies to equipment placed on board ships flying the flag of an EU member state, where international conventions require approval by the flag administration: life-saving appliances, fire-fighting equipment, navigation and radio equipment, pollution prevention and more. Equipment that passes conformity assessment carries the wheel mark (Article 9). The directive has applied since 18 September 2016.[1]
Conformity is shown through notified bodies using assessment modules — type examination (module B) combined with production quality assurance (D), product quality assurance (E) or product verification (F), or unit verification (G). The list of equipment and the applicable standards are updated by implementing regulation; the current one is Implementing Regulation (EU) 2025/1533, which repealed Regulation 2024/1975.[1,2]
Many non-EU flags accept wheel-marked equipment as approved, which makes it the safest default when a ship's flag is unknown to the supplier. Ask for the MED certificate (module B plus D/E/F) with the item, not just the mark on the box.
Read next on GeoMarineHub
Sources
- [1] EUR-Lex — Directive 2014/90/EU on marine equipment — https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/dir/2014/90/oj
- [2] EMSA — Implementing Regulation (EU) 2025/1533 (marine equipment requirements) — https://www.emsa.europa.eu/we-do/safety/marine-equipment/item/5010-regulation-eu-2025-1533.html
A working definition for buyers, not legal advice — the contract, the convention text and your club or class have the last word.