Every year, vessels operating under commercial flags face port state control inspections that check, among many other things, whether the fittings on the navigation bridge comply with IMO SOLAS requirements. Anti-glare screens and roller blinds fitted to bridge windows are within scope. A product that lacks independent Type Approval from a recognised classification society is not a compliant fitting. The distinction is not bureaucratic. A non-approved product represents a measurable risk to the vessel, its operator, and the people responsible for the procurement decision that put it there.
This article sets out what the regulation requires, what goes wrong when it is not followed, and how to verify Type Approval before placing any order for marine navigation bridge window fittings.
The Regulation That Creates the Requirement
IMO SOLAS Chapter V, Regulation 22 sets out the requirements for the navigational bridge field of vision. It requires that windows and their fittings do not obstruct the officer of the watch from obtaining the clear, undistorted external view necessary for safe navigation.
IMO Resolution MSC.64(67) Annex 1 — the Performance Standards for Pilot Transfer Arrangements and Navigation Bridge Equipment — provides the specific technical requirements that navigation bridge window fittings must meet. To demonstrate compliance independently, a product must be submitted to and assessed by a recognised classification society. A product that passes this assessment is awarded Type Approval, which confirms that the product, as manufactured, meets the required standard.
The four classification societies whose Type Approval is recognised across the widest range of flag states and operators are Lloyd’s Register, DNV, ABS, and RINA. A product carrying approval from one or more of these societies has been independently tested and confirmed to meet the regulatory standard.
Type Approval is not a quality mark applied by the manufacturer. It is an independent assessment by a classification society confirming that the product meets the regulatory standard required for fitting on commercial vessels.
What Can Go Wrong When a Non-Approved Product Is Fitted
Four specific consequences arise from fitting non-Type Approved products on a navigation bridge.
Port State Control Deficiency
During a port state control inspection, an officer may check the certification of navigation bridge fittings. A product without valid Type Approval from a recognised classification society can be recorded as a deficiency. Depending on the number and severity of deficiencies found, this can result in a detention notice that prevents the vessel from sailing until the issue is corrected. A detained vessel incurs direct costs in port fees, loss of charter income, and emergency procurement expenses.
Paris MOU Record
Paris MOU port state control records are publicly accessible and are actively reviewed by charterers, insurers, and operators when assessing vessel performance and risk. A deficiency related to navigation bridge equipment compliance creates a record that remains visible across the industry. Repeated or unresolved deficiencies affect the vessel’s inspection history and can influence commercial decisions about its employment.
Classification Survey Failure
Classification society surveyors conducting renewal or special surveys inspect bridge equipment for compliance. A non-approved fitting on the navigation bridge may result in a condition of class or recommendation requiring replacement before the next survey. This creates a mandatory expense at a time and cost outside the owner’s control.
Emergency Replacement Costs
When non-approved products must be replaced under pressure — following a PSC deficiency, a survey condition, or a charter query — procurement typically involves:
- Higher unit costs from emergency ordering rather than planned procurement
- Expedited international shipping charges
- Port labour costs for unplanned installation
- Vessel delay costs during replacement
- Possible disruption to the existing schedule if the vessel is under charter
These costs are entirely avoidable at the specification stage.
Why Non-Approved Products End Up on Navigation Bridges
Non-approved products enter the supply chain through five distinct routes.
| Route | How it happens |
| Price-led procurement | A lower unit price is selected without checking the certification status of the product. Suppliers offering uncertified products can undercut certified manufacturers because they have not absorbed the cost and time of the approval process. |
| Specification gap in the order | The purchase order for refurbishment or newbuild outfitting does not specify Type Approval as a mandatory requirement. The supplier provides a compliant-looking product that is not certified. |
| Confusion between CE marking and Type Approval | CE marking is a self-declaration by the manufacturer that a product meets EU product safety regulations. It is not equivalent to classification society Type Approval and is not accepted as evidence of compliance with IMO SOLAS navigation bridge requirements. |
| Substitution during supply chain | A fitting agent or outfitter substitutes a cheaper uncertified product for the specified approved product, either without disclosing the change or with misleading documentation. |
| Retrofit without specification check | An existing approved fitting is replaced on a like-for-like basis visually, with no check made that the replacement product carries the same certification as the original. |
CE Marking Is Not Type Approval
This distinction is the most common source of compliance failure in procurement. CE marking and classification society Type Approval are separate and distinct certification mechanisms. They apply different standards and serve different regulatory purposes.
| Criterion | CE Marking | Classification Society Type Approval |
| What it is | Self-declaration of conformity by the manufacturer to EU product safety directives | Independent assessment and certification by a third-party classification society |
| Who decides conformity | The manufacturer | The classification society (Lloyd’s Register, DNV, ABS, RINA) |
| Regulatory basis | EU product safety legislation | IMO SOLAS and performance standards (MSC.64(67) Annex 1) |
| Accepted by PSC for SOLAS compliance | No | Yes |
A product that carries CE marking but not classification society Type Approval does not satisfy the IMO SOLAS navigation bridge fitting requirement. Procurement teams that accept CE marking as evidence of compliance are making a material error.
How to Verify Type Approval Before Every Order
Five practical steps allow any procurement or technical team to verify Type Approval before committing to a purchase.
Step 1. Request the Type Approval Certificate
Ask the supplier to provide a current, valid Type Approval certificate from a recognised classification society. The certificate should name the specific product and confirm the approval is current. A certificate that has expired, that refers to a different product variant, or that is issued by an unrecognised authority does not constitute valid Type Approval.
Step 2. Check the Certificate Against the Classification Society Register
Lloyd’s Register, DNV, ABS, and RINA each maintain publicly accessible registers of approved products. Cross-reference the certificate number and product details against the relevant register to confirm the approval is genuine and current. This step takes a few minutes and eliminates the risk of accepting forged or outdated documentation.
Step 3. Confirm the Approval Covers the Specific Product Being Ordered
Type Approval is product-specific. A certificate covering one model or specification does not extend to a related product from the same manufacturer unless that product is explicitly named in the approval. Verify that the approval certificate covers the exact product, size, and specification being ordered.
Step 4. Confirm the Approval Society Is Appropriate for the Vessel’s Class
While most flag states and operators accept Type Approval from all four major classification societies, some vessels are classed specifically with one society and require approval from that society or a mutually recognised equivalent. If you are specifying for a vessel with a specific class, confirm the appropriate approval society with the owner’s or operator’s technical team before ordering.
Step 5. Record the Certificate Details in the Procurement File
Document the Type Approval certificate details — society, certificate number, product specification, and expiry date if applicable — in the vessel’s procurement and maintenance records. If a PSC officer or surveyor questions the fitting in future, the certification evidence is immediately available. Technical documentation including Type Approval certificates for SOLASOLV® products is available from the Solar Solve downloads page.
Approved vs Non-Approved Marine Window Fittings: A Comparison
| Consideration | Type Approved Product | Non-Type Approved Product |
| SOLAS navigation bridge compliance | Confirmed by independent classification society assessment | Not independently confirmed; compliance cannot be guaranteed |
| PSC deficiency risk | Minimal — certification is verifiable on request | Significant — absence of approval is a citable deficiency |
| Classification survey risk | Low — product meets the standard the surveyor is checking against | Elevated — surveyor may require replacement as a condition of class |
| Paris MOU record risk | None from the fitting itself | Potential deficiency creates a permanent record |
| Procurement evidence | Certificate number, approval society, and register entry all verifiable | No independent evidence of compliance available |
| Emergency replacement likelihood | Low | High if deficiency is identified during survey or inspection |
| True cost over vessel life | Higher unit cost offset by zero compliance risk and zero emergency replacement cost | Lower unit cost offset by compliance risk, potential emergency replacement, and detention costs |
| Suitable for newbuild specification | Yes — classification society approval aligns with the certification requirements of the build | No — creates a compliance problem at an early stage of the vessel’s life |
| Suitable for retrofit on commercial vessel | Yes | No — introduces risk into an existing compliant vessel |
The only circumstance in which a non-Type Approved product represents an acceptable procurement decision for a navigation bridge fitting is if the vessel is not subject to commercial classification, PSC inspection, or SOLAS requirements. For all commercial vessels operating under a recognised flag state, Type Approval is a requirement, not an option. For more information about what Type Approved fittings are required to meet, see the Solar Solve marine sector page.
SOLASOLV® — The Only Marine Anti-Glare Screen With All Four Type Approvals
SOLASOLV® is the only marine anti-glare screen in the world to hold simultaneous Type Approval from all four of the world’s leading classification societies. This means that SOLASOLV® screens can be specified for vessels operating under virtually any flag state or classification society without the need to check approval compatibility.
| Classification Society | Award Date | Coverage |
| Lloyd’s Register | May 2001 | All SOLASOLV® screen types covered by current approval |
| ABS (American Bureau of Shipping) | September 2001 | All SOLASOLV® screen types covered by current approval |
| DNV | July 2002 | All SOLASOLV® screen types covered by current approval |
| RINA (Registro Italiano Navale) | Current approval held | All SOLASOLV® screen types covered by current approval |
SOLASOLV® screens reduce solar glare by up to 93 per cent and solar heat by up to 87 per cent while maintaining a completely clear, undistorted outward view at all times. They have been manufactured at the same South Shields facility since 1975 and have been supplied to more than 20,000 vessels and specialist locations across 108 countries. For technical specifications and Type Approval certificate details, see What Makes a Marine Blind Type Approved on the Solar Solve website.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between Type Approval and CE marking for marine window blinds?
CE marking is a manufacturer’s self-declaration of conformity to EU product safety directives. It is not issued or verified by an independent third party and is not accepted by port state control officers as evidence of SOLAS compliance for navigation bridge window fittings. Type Approval from a recognised classification society — Lloyd’s Register, DNV, ABS, or RINA — is an independent assessment confirming the product meets IMO performance standards. Only Type Approval satisfies the SOLAS navigation bridge requirement.
Can a non-Type Approved blind fail a port state control inspection?
Yes. Port state control officers inspecting navigation bridge equipment for SOLAS compliance can record the absence of valid Type Approval as a deficiency. Depending on the number and severity of deficiencies recorded, this can result in a detention notice that prevents the vessel from sailing until the deficiency is corrected. Emergency replacement of non-compliant fittings at port, under time pressure, is significantly more expensive than purchasing correctly approved products at the specification stage.
Do all four classification society Type Approvals say the same thing?
The technical requirements assessed under each classification society’s Type Approval process reflect the same underlying IMO performance standard — MSC.64(67) Annex 1 — but each society conducts its own independent assessment. A product may hold approval from one society but not from others. SOLASOLV® screens hold simultaneous approval from Lloyd’s Register, DNV, ABS, and RINA, which means they are certifiable for vessels classed by any of these societies without additional assessment.
How do I verify that a supplier’s product is genuinely Type Approved?
Request a copy of the current Type Approval certificate from the supplier. The certificate should name the specific product, the approving classification society, and the certificate number. Cross-reference these details against the approving society’s publicly accessible product register. Lloyd’s Register, DNV, ABS, and RINA each publish searchable registers of approved equipment. If the product cannot be found in the register under the certificate details provided, the approval cannot be confirmed. For documentation on SOLASOLV® approvals, visit the Solar Solve downloads page at solasolv.com/downloads/.
Is Type Approval required for vessels outside EU waters?
SOLAS requirements apply to commercial vessels flagged under states that are party to the SOLAS convention, regardless of the waters in which they operate. This covers the overwhelming majority of internationally trading commercial vessels. The flag state determines which classification society’s approval is accepted, but in most cases approval from any of the four major societies — Lloyd’s Register, DNV, ABS, RINA — is recognised. Vessels operating exclusively in national waters under a domestic flag may face different requirements, but any vessel subject to international port state control inspections under the Paris MOU, Tokyo MOU, or equivalent agreements must comply with SOLAS navigation bridge fitting requirements.
