When dealing with the export and import of water rescue products, it’s common for customers to ask if the products meet SOLAS and MED certifications. Do you know the difference of SOLAS Convention and MED Certification and how are they linked about marine product? Let’s explain it clearly and concisely in this post.

1. What is SOLAS Convention?

  • What It Is: SOLAS stands for the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea. It’s not a certification for a specific product or company, but rather a set of rules and guidelines developed by the countries that are part of the agreement. The main goal is to ensure safety at sea.
  • What It Covers: SOLAS includes a wide range of maritime safety topics like ship inspections, certificates, ship design, firefighting and lifesaving equipment, navigation safety, radio communication, and the transport of dangerous goods.
  • Why It’s Important: SOLAS sets the basic safety standards for ships that are involved in international voyages. Ships need to be inspected by authorized organizations and meet SOLAS standards to get certified and operate internationally. This helps ensure safety and order in global shipping.

2. What is MED Certification?

  • What It Is: MED refers to the Marine Equipment Directive, which is a certification required for marine products in the European Union.
  • What It Covers: MED includes a wide variety of shipboard equipment, like life-saving devices, firefighting equipment, navigation tools, and communication devices.
  • How It Works: The most common approach is the Module B + Dsystem. Module B involves testing the product to confirm that it meets the requirements. Module D is a factory audit, ensuring that the manufacturer follows quality control procedures and has a recognized quality system (similar to ISO 9000).
  • Why It Matters: MED ensures that equipment used on ships in the other countries that recognize the certification meets international safety standards, especially those set by SOLAS. This ensures that the equipment is safe, reliable, and ready for use on international voyages.
MED CERTIFICATE

3. How Are SOLAS and MED Related?

  • Regulation vs. Certification: SOLAS is an international regulation that sets safety standards for ships, while MED is a certification that ensures marine products meet SOLAS and other international standards in the global market. In short, MED is how SOLAS is applied to marine products.
  • Same Goal: Both certifications aim to ensure the safety of maritime operations. SOLAS addresses overall ship safety, while MED ensures that the equipment used on those ships meets the necessary safety standards, contributing to the overall safety of the vessel.

In Summary: If a product meets SOLAS standards, it’s usually eligible for MED certification or similar certifications.

3. Which Classification Societies Issue MED Certification?

Classification societies play a key role in certifying marine equipment. The International Association of Classification Societies (IACS) consists of major classification societies, which are recognized for their standards in the maritime industry. Here’s a list of the “big nine” classification societies:

  1. Lloyd’s Register (LR) (UK): Founded in 1760, LR is the oldest classification society. It’s well-respected worldwide and sets standards for ship structure, machinery, electrical systems, and safety equipment.
  2. Bureau Veritas (BV) (France): Established in 1828, BV is one of the leading global groups for ship inspection and certification. It covers all areas of ship design, construction, inspection, and maintenance.
  3. RINA (Italy): Founded in 1861, RINA is one of the oldest classification societies, providing certification and inspection services in shipbuilding and marine engineering.
  4. American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) (USA): Founded in 1862, ABS is a non-governmental organization that sets standards for the design, construction, and operation of marine facilities.
  5. DNV (Norway): Founded in 1864 and now merged with Germanischer Lloyd (GL), DNV GL is one of the largest classification societies in the world. It focuses on sustainability and innovation in the maritime industry.
  6. ClassNK (Japan): Founded in 1899, ClassNK certifies ships flying various national flags and plays a major role in the development of maritime technology and inspection standards.
  7. China Classification Society (CCS): Established in 1986, CCS is China’s only classification society, focusing on the safety of Chinese ships and playing a key role in the development of China’s shipbuilding industry.
  8. Korean Register (KR): Founded in 1967, KR plays a major role in certifying ships and supporting the growth of the Korean maritime industry.
  9. Russian Maritime Register of Shipping (RS): Founded in 1913, RS specializes in icebreaking and offshore engineering, with a focus on vessels and equipment used in polar and extreme environments.
Nine Major Classification Societies

For MED certification, Chinese marine products are mostly certified by DNV and RINA. While DNV has higher recognition, it also comes with higher costs and longer certification cycles. RINA, on the other hand, is more affordable and offers faster processing, though it’s not as widely recognized.

4. Are There Any Remote-Controlled Lifebuoys with med certification in China?

At the moment, there are no Chinese manufacturers offering MED-certified remote-controlled lifebuoys. Our research points to a few key reasons behind this:

  1. New Product Category: Remote-controlled lifebuoys are still a relatively new technology in water rescue equipment, and there aren’t any established certification standards for them yet. This means manufacturers haven’t been able to pursue certifications like MED for these products just yet.
  2. High Production Costs: As a cutting-edge innovation, remote-controlled lifebuoys are still expensive to produce. With a small target market, they’re mostly sold in smaller quantities, so the demand for certifications like SOLAS or MED isn’t yet urgent.
  3. Long and Costly Certification Process: The MED certification process is both time-consuming and expensive, which is likely why many manufacturers are still in the midst of getting certified. The long timeline and high costs involved in the process can be a barrier for products still in their early stages
ING RESCUE remote control lifesaving buoy

Looking ahead, as technology continues to evolve, advanced remote-controlled lifebuoys are set to gradually replace traditional lifebuoys, becoming more widely used on international shipping routes and in public maritime areas. To meet the growing demand and ensure safety standards, these products will inevitably need to comply with international regulations like the SOLAS convention, and corresponding certifications will follow. It’s exciting to think about how these advanced water rescue products will gain global recognition and contribute to enhancing maritime safety on a larger scale. Let’s look forward to a future where these innovations make a significant impact.

Similar Posts