Safety requirements for pleasure craft

Do you build or import pleasure craft in the Netherlands? They must meet safety and environmental requirements. These requirements apply to: 

• pleasure boats between 2.5 metres and 24 metres in length
• personal watercraft no longer than 4 metres, such as jet skis and water scooters
• pleasure craft that have entered the market after 1997
• all sports and recreational boats (inland and seagoing)

Inland shipping certificate 

You must have an inland shipping certificate (binnenvaartcertificaat) for your pleasure craft if it: 

• has a hull size of 20 metres or longer
• has a hull capacity of 100m3 (length x width x depth) or more 

You can apply for an inland shipping certificate to classification societies or inspection bodies (klassenbureaus or keuringsinstanties) that are approved by the Human Environment and Transport Inspectorate (ILT). Your pleasure craft must meet the technical requirements specific to its type and size for this certificate. 

CE marking

Pleasure craft must bear a manufacturer's plate (bouwersplaatje, in Dutch) with CE marking. This is a European label that proves that the craft meets the European requirements. The plate should be visible from the steering position of the vessel. 

Applying for CE marking 

Do you want to apply for a CE marking for your pleasure craft? You must have the vessel inspected by 1 of 3 organisations: 

• Dutch Certification Institute
• DMI-EMCI
• European Certification Bureau Netherlands 

You can also use the European Nando database to find a notified body in another EU country. 

WIN code (manufacturers code) 

The Watercraft Identification Number (WIN code) identifies the pleasure craft. The WIN code shows where, when and by whom the vessel was made. It consists of 15 numbers and letters and must be placed on the right-hand side (starboard) mirror. It must also be placed on a 2nd, hidden, place on the vessel. 

Applying for a WIN 

To obtain a WIN, manufacturers need to apply for a Manufacturers Identification Code to HISWA RECRON (English-language pdf form at the bottom of the page, in Dutch). 

Mandatory documentation 

If you are the builder of the vessel, you must provide: 

• an owner’s manual in Dutch or English that is specific to the vessel
• a technical file of the recreational craft or component that you put on the market
• a declaration of conformity in which you state that the vessel meets all legal requirements 

Certificate of Registry 

Pleasure craft at sea do not need to have a Certificate of Registry (Zeebrief). However, ILT recommends to apply for a Certificate of Registry as this establishes your ownership of the vessel. And it gives you the right to sail under the Dutch flag. If you sail commercially, a Certificate of Registry is mandatory. 

Environmental requirements 

New pleasure craft must also meet the maximum emission rates (Part B of Annex I) of hydrocarbons, nitrogen oxides, particulates, and carbon monoxide. And they must keep below the noise limit levels (Part C of Annex I) for propulsion engines. New craft equipped with a toilet must also have a holding tank or water treatment system to avoid discharge of sewage. 

Exemptions 

The requirements for pleasure craft do not apply to: 

• official racing boats
• canoes
• gondolas
• pedal boats
• personal watercraft longer than 4 metres
• surfboards
• originals and replicas of historical vessels
• experimental vessels
• vessels built for personal use
• manned vessels for commercial passenger transport
• submarines
• hovercrafts
• hydrofoils 

For a full list of exempted vessels see Chapter 1, article 2, paragraph 2 of EU Directive 2013/53 on recreational craft.