The Course

Hello everybody!

Welcome to the Boat CE Certification and Homologation course. My name is Jean-Noël Roussier, and I will guide you on the way to CE Certification of boats.

The course focuses on boat (and yacht) certification, although the European Recreational Craft Directive (RCD) covers other products as well.

The course is divided into five parts:

In the first part, we will start to discover the European Recreational Craft Directive (RCD 2013/53/EU), its origin, and how it works. This first part will help us to get used to the vocabulary and how the directive works. This is not the most technical part, but it will allow us to get into the subject.

Part two describes the Essential Requirements of the RCD, what they are, and how to meet them. We will talk about boats, not only the directive’s text. In the end, you will be able to understand the Essential Requirements and the hazards to deal with. This is the most important and longest part because it is the very essence of the directive: the protection from hazards linked to the product. I will insist on the different ways to comply with the directive. The goal is to provide the necessary elements of understanding to give the tool for each actor to find a better solution for his own case.

Part three discusses the certification process, the actors, and the tools used. It is more about the procedure and all the practical aspects of the CE Certification for boat builders: What must I do? Who do I need to contact? What will it be requested?

Part four is devoted to the documentation requested by the directive. It answers the following questions: What will it be requested? And furthermore, what is it, and what does it involve? With a long sample of a written declaration of conformity analysis, you will discover how to complete it and also the legal aspects of these documents.

Finally, part five addresses the subject of Market Surveillance and how states are involved—and they are all! Here again, the main goal is to understand the different actors and how they work.

I hope you will find the answers to your questions. Welcome aboard!