Regulations surrounding marine products are becoming increasingly complex. As a result, meeting the market entry requirements of many countries can be a daunting process. The European Union (EU) alone has nearly 40 different regulations governing maritime products and services, and determining which regulations apply to your equipment can be a challenge. Most manufacturers cannot afford the manpower and resources required to review and understand the regulatory forces governing marine equipment. This means they risk being denied entry into world markets.
Manufacturers whose products are not certified by a reputable third-party testing and inspection body will find it hard to gain customers and penetrate markets. As marine equipment is subject to extremely harsh operating conditions, shipbuilders and end customers will usually reject untested products outright.