This service is designed to meet the needs of professional and private boat builders who need to ensure that the vessels that they produce are compliant with the Recreational Craft Regulations (“RCR”).
East Hill Marine will deliver a complete compliance-based approach to inspection, reporting and certification via a UK Notified Body.
A three-stage approach is used:
- Stage 1: Detailed inspection of the vessel on-site (in or out of the water)
The purpose of the inspection is to gather all of the facts and figures necessary to assess the vessel against the requirements of the “RCR”. It will require access to propulsion, electrical, gas, fuel, fire prevention, life-saving, water and waste management systems. Typically, an inspection will take 1-2 days. This is not necessarily a “pass/fail” scenario; time will be given to rectify any defects if required, although reinspections are chargeable.
- Stage 2: Post-inspection processing
Once the inspection is completed, the information gathered must be processed. This includes the production of a summary of recommendations (if further work is required), detailed schematic diagrams, an Owner’s Manual, a technical file, and the preparation of final assessment documentation.
- Stage 3: Declaration of Conformity and compliant identification plates.
The final stage involves the creation of approval documentation and mandatory identification plates that must be installed on the vessel.
Travel, subsistence and additional on-site visit charges (if required) will be chargeable based on the specifics of the vessel and location.
Post Construction Assessment (PCA)
Post-Construction Assessment (PCA) is a specific module within the Recreational Craft Regulations 2017 designed for recreational craft and components that haven’t been placed on the market or for which the original builder hasn’t taken responsibility for UKCA marking. An everyday use for PCA is to validate a craft fitted out by the Owner, having purchased a “sail away” shell from a professional boatbuilder or fabricator and subsequently placing it on the market or putting it into service.
Assessment against PCA Module requirements is conducted by East Hill Marine on behalf of a Notified Body, such as the HPi Verification Services, who will evaluate the vessel against all the essential safety requirements. The Owner of the vessel is responsible for collecting and supplying sufficient technical file documentation for all the systems used in the vessel.
In the case of significant craft conversions, the PCA Module will be used by a Notified Body to assess any changes made to the craft and determine if they alter its compliance with the Essential Requirements of the Directive.
The PCA Module is regulated in Annex V of the Recreational Craft Regulations 2017.
Major Craft Conversion (MCC)
It is now the case that any alteration to a vessel post-2017 that has changed the Essential Requirements of the craft will require re-certification under the RCR. Examples of an MCC are: the fitting out of a CE or UKCA certified vessel that was supplied to be completed by others (commonly known as a “sailaway”); and/or, removing a diesel engine and installing an electric motor, altering the internal fit-out to an extent that it may affect the stability (or any other Essential Requirement) of the craft, removing lead acid batteries and installing lithium batteries. This is not an exhaustive list.
British Marine has published guidance stating that a MCC and the need to recertify a craft through a PCA applies to craft built after the implementation of the original RCD with the changes to the craft being made after the UK implementation of RCD 2017 (also referred to as “RCD II”) i.e. craft built after 16 June 1998 with the major craft conversion occurring after 3 August 2017 are in scope.