''The Ships Wheel'' or ''Wheelmark'' Products

The MED (Marine Equipment Directive) Wheel-mark, or Ships Wheel as it is sometimes referred too, is an accreditation that is required for marine equipment on seagoing vessels worldwide. It applies to any ship flying a European Country flag including the EEA & EFTA member state.

While most European Directives require products to carry the "CE" mark, products certified under the MED carry the "wheel mark". Since 18 September 2016, the Marine Equipment Directive (MED) 2014/90/EU must have been applied. This directive has repealed the original MED 96/98/EC, which was successfully implemented in 1999.

The Wheelmark is granted once a product has been demonstrated to meet the safety at sea requirements as stipulated by the Marine Equipment Directive. It is the “flag administration” of the Member State that has the authority for issuing certification - in the UK, this is the MCA.

Countries within the European Union have one or more nominated “Notified Bodies” which carry out the work to demonstrate that equipment placed on board ships meets safety at sea requirements. Products which they approve for use are required to use the Wheelmark, which must be affixed directly to the product or to its packaging.