MATERIALS & EQUIPMENT CERTIFICATION
WHAT IS MATERIALS AND EQUIPMENT CERTIFICATION?
Marine materials and equipment certification is the review and testing process that ensures ships’ component parts conform to the technical standards established by regulatory bodies. Certification is required for many vessel parts, including propulsion engines, fire safety equipment, lifting appliances, hull structures, welding consumables and electrical, automation and navigation systems.
Bureau Veritas provides certification services for shipyards, suppliers and manufacturers, helping keep ship materials and equipment reliable for shipowners. Our certification experts are technical and regulatory specialists who pioneer safety and performance and work by your side to help you achieve compliance.
2026 update on lifting appliances
On January 1, 2026, new safety requirements from the International Maritime Organization for onboard lifting appliances came into force. The International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) Regulation II-1/3-13 lays out the new rules, which aim to prevent accidents, improve safety and establish uniform standards for the design, construction, installation and maintenance of lifting equipment. These requirements apply to a wide range of lifting appliances, including cargo cranes, engine room cranes, stores cranes and hose handling cranes.
All new lifting appliances must be designed, constructed, and installed in accordance with the requirements of a recognized classification society, such as Bureau Veritas. Existing lifting appliances must comply with the new requirements no later than the date of their first renewal survey after the entry into force of the new rules. Bureau Veritas stands ready to certify all kinds of lifting appliances around the world.
Learn more here.
DO I NEED MATERIALS OR EQUIPMENT CERTIFICATION?
Marine materials and equipment are highly regulated. Most products are subject to classification, and must be certified under class Rules, or International Maritime Organization (IMO) and European Union (EU) regulations. Many flag administrations also enforce additional statutory regulations regarding the safety and environmental performance of materials and equipment.
Bureau Veritas provides key technical and regulatory expertise to help shipowners, shipyards, suppliers and manufacturers meet these standards. As pioneers in safety and performance, we help ensure that all materials and equipment conform to applicable standards at all stages of design and operation. We offer a full-service approach to certification, working by our clients’ side at locations worldwide.
SUPPORTING YOUR CERTIFICATION NEEDS
As regulations evolve, Bureau Veritas is by our clients’ side, helping certify the next generation of ship design, equipment and materials.
We use in-depth knowledge of classification Rules to ensure compliance with materials and equipment standards
We have developed dedicated Rule Note NR266, which summarizes certification requirements for survey of materials and equipment
We deliver a wide range of certificates, including type approval, company recognition and product certificates compliant with class Rules and statutory regulations
We support compliance with EU Marine Equipment Directive 2014/90/EU, UK Marine Equipment Regulations 2025 N°1280 and the EU RO Mutual Recognition Technical Requirements
We have an extensive network of marine experts ready to deliver certification services worldwide
OUR MATERIALS & EQUIPMENT CERTIFICATION SERVICES
Conformity assessment services for equipment that must comply with classification Rules and/or statutory regulations
Type approval to review the technical documentation that defines your product type, review the appropriate test program, and obtain a Type Approval Certificate
Product design assessment to verify that your materials and equipment comply with design requirements determined by technical documentation
Individual product certification with surveys relating to individual product manufacturing, including witnessing product testing
Company quality management system assessments to confirm ability to produce products as per type tested
Third-party certification services for marine materials and equipment that must meet recognized industry standards
REFERENCE PROJECTS
World’s largest sailing cruise ship
Orient Express Corinthian, Chantiers de l'Atlantique
In service May 2026
Sails certified by Bureau Veritas
COMPLEMENTARY SERVICES FOR YOUR MATERIALS AND EQUIPMENT
Bureau Veritas provides additional services to support marine manufacturers and suppliers, including basic design assessments, basic approvals, process approvals, Approvals in Principle (AiPs) and review attestations. We also perform laboratory recognition and NDT supplier recognition in accordance with Rule Notes NR 320 and NR 669, respectively.
Director of Equipment & Materials Certification
Bureau Veritas Marine & Offshore
Ship design is never static, and with environmental challenges, changing equipment and technology come new regulatory requirements. To remain compliant, maritime stakeholders must work with trusted certification partners who combine product innovation with regulatory know-how. Bureau Veritas more than fits the bill, having provided materials and equipment certification throughout a hundred years of technical evolution.”
DIGITAL SERVICES FOR YOUR MATERIALS AND EQUIPMENT CERTIFICATION
Bureau Veritas provides a suite of digital services to help you manage your materials and equipment needs. VeriStar Equipment is a digital application that streamlines the process of requesting equipment surveys, type approval reviews and manufacturer audits. Using the application, marine stakeholders can submit requests for product certificates, Type Approval Certificates, company recognition certificates, and corresponding surveys and audits. VeriStar Equipment also works alongside Approval Explorer, a digital platform that helps ship operators locate Bureau Veritas type approved product manufacturers worldwide.
Ensuring cybersecurity
While maritime digitalization has brought huge efficiency gains to the industry, it has also increased the risk of cyberattacks. Robust cybersecurity for onboard systems is of vital importance to ensure the safety of your vessel and its associated systems and equipment. Bureau Veritas provides type approval certifications for the cyber resilience of onboard systems and equipment, in accordance with our Rule Note NR 659.
Are you looking for materials and equipment training?
The Bureau Veritas Maritime Academy provides relevant training to all maritime stakeholders, including shipowners, yards, and manufacturers, helping our clients understand their challenges. Through eLearning courses and webinars, you can follow specific materials and equipment training to learn how new industry developments could affect your fleet.
Learn more here.
MATERIALS AND EQUIPMENT CERTIFICATION FAQS
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Which products are eligible under EU RO mutual recognition?
As an EU Recognized Organization (RO), Bureau Veritas can supply mutual recognition type approval certificates (MR TAC), which are accepted by the 10 other classification societies that have EU RO status. These MR TACs are based on technical requirements that have been developed through the consolidation of all EU RO classification societies’ rules for a specific product, adhering to the most stringent and rigorous standards.
EU RO MR TACs are limited to components, equipment and materials installed on non-essential and non-safety critical systems for which there are no statutory requirement and no class Rules needing an individual product certification. Examples of eligible products include sensors, battery chargers, touch screens and cable ties.
Our Rule Note NR 596 lays out the terms and conditions, procedure for type approval and technical requirements for EU RO mutual recognition. For more information, read our guidance document here.
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What is a conformity assessment?
Conformity assessments ensure that materials and equipment meet specific design and technical standards. Bureau Veritas offers certification services for all marine materials and equipment covered by classification rules. We also perform conformity assessments on equipment listed in international maritime instruments (e.g., SOLAS, MARPOL, COLREG) on behalf of flag administrations and issue corresponding Type Approval Certificates.
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Which classification certificates are issued for materials and equipment?
Type approval certificates are issued to replace individual design assessments, enabling manufacturers to produce equipment that conforms to type tests. Product certificates show proof that products have undergone inspection and tests, verifying compliance with individual design review or type approval processes. Company recognition certificates certify the compliance of manufacturers’ quality management systems.
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How do I get class certification for my materials and equipment?
To achieve class certification, the design of equipment and materials must be reviewed. During production, qualified inspectors will perform periodic onsite audits, and, if required, will conduct individual product inspections. Bureau Veritas can also provide process and mass production audits for manufacturers producing equipment and materials at scale.
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Where does Bureau Veritas provide materials & equipment certification?
Bureau Veritas is delegated by 152 flag states, including France, the UK, Transport Canada and the United States Coast Guard. As a Notified Body under the EU Marine Equipment Directive 2014/90/EU, we are authorized to perform conformity assessments of equipment to be installed on European flag ships. As an Approved Body, we are similarly authorized in the United Kingdom under UK Merchant Ship Marine Equipment Regulations 2025 N°1280
for equipment to be installed on UK flag ships.
