CE design category
European Union classification system for recreational craft
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
CE design category is the classification system used in the European Union to indicate the environmental conditions for which a recreational craft or personal watercraft is designed under Directive 2013/53/EU. The system forms part of the EU regime for recreational craft and personal watercraft and is shown on the craft's builder's plate together with the CE marking.[1]
The categories are defined in terms of wind force and significant wave height rather than by geographic labels. Recital 33 of Directive 2013/53/EU states that the titles of the watercraft design categories should be based only on the essential environmental conditions for navigation, namely wind force and significant wave height, to provide clear information about the acceptable operating environment of watercraft.[1]
Legal basis
The CE design category system is laid down in Annex I, Part A, point 1 of Directive 2013/53/EU. The directive applies to recreational craft and personal watercraft with a hull length from 2.5 metres to 24 metres, subject to specified exclusions.[1]
The directive replaced the earlier framework established by Directive 94/25/EC, as amended by Directive 2003/44/EC. According to the European Commission, Directive 2013/53/EU has applied since 18 January 2016.[2]
Categories
Directive 2013/53/EU defines four design categories, designated A, B, C and D. Watercraft in each category must be designed and constructed to withstand the relevant parameters respecting stability, buoyancy and other applicable essential requirements, and to have good handling characteristics.[1]
| Category | Wind force (Beaufort scale) | Significant wave height (H1/3, metres) | Definition in the directive |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | Exceeding 8 | Exceeding 4 | Watercraft designed for extended voyages where conditions may exceed wind force 8 and significant wave heights of 4 m and above, but excluding abnormal conditions such as storm, violent storm, hurricane, tornado and extreme sea conditions or rogue waves.[1] |
| B | Up to and including 8 | Up to and including 4 | Watercraft designed for offshore voyages where conditions up to and including wind force 8 and significant wave heights up to and including 4 m may be experienced.[1] |
| C | Up to and including 6 | Up to and including 2 | Watercraft designed for voyages in coastal waters, large bays, estuaries, lakes and rivers where conditions up to and including wind force 6 and significant wave heights up to and including 2 m may be experienced.[1] |
| D | Up to and including 4 | Up to and including 0.3 | Watercraft designed for voyages in sheltered coastal waters, small bays, small lakes, rivers and canals where conditions up to and including wind force 4 and significant wave heights up to and including 0.3 m may be experienced, with occasional waves of 0.5 m maximum height caused for example by passing vessels.[1][3] |
Terminology
Under the directive, the design category is a design classification and not a navigational authorisation. The European Commission's application guide explains that the categories are linked to the essential environmental conditions for navigation and to the technical assessment of the craft under the directive.[3]
The guide also notes that the upper limits for category A are defined implicitly, since the directive excludes abnormal conditions such as storms, hurricanes, tornadoes and rogue waves rather than setting a fixed upper numerical limit for that category.[3]
The term significant wave height is used in the directive as the relevant wave parameter for classification. In its 2022 report on the evaluation and review of Directive 2013/53/EU, the European Commission described the upper limits for category A as being set implicitly by the exclusion of stormy weather and referred to the design categories as one of the directive's key technical elements.[4]
Builder's plate and consumer information
Directive 2013/53/EU requires the builder's plate of a watercraft to include the craft design category. The builder's plate must be affixed separately from the watercraft identification number and must be visible, legible and indelible.[1]
The design category is one of the principal items of information communicated to buyers and users of recreational craft within the EU conformity framework. The European Commission states that the directive is intended to ensure a high level of protection of health, safety, the environment and consumers while guaranteeing the functioning of the internal market.[5]