Type Approval Certificate

A type approval certificate confirms that a model of marine equipment meets the applicable standard, issued by a classification society or flag administration after testing a representative sample. Equipment subject to type approval includes navigation and radio equipment under SOLAS, ballast water management systems under the BWM Convention, oily-water separators, sewage treatment plants, and life-saving and fire-fighting appliances. The certificate lets the equipment be fitted across many ships without re-testing each unit, while individual installation is still surveyed onboard. For navigation and radio equipment the EU Marine Equipment Directive operates a parallel wheel-mark conformity scheme. The certificate covers the design, not the as-fitted installation.