When a marine reseller, distributor, or ship chandler supplies marine blinds or anti-glare screens for navigation bridge windows, they are supplying a product into a regulated application. The customer may not know this. Many ship managers and vessel operators source marine blinds through resellers and assume the reseller has already confirmed the product is appropriate for the application. When the reseller has not confirmed this, and the product fails a classification society survey or port state control inspection, the consequences fall on the customer and on the reseller’s commercial relationship with them.
This article explains what marine resellers need to communicate to their customers about Type Approval, why it matters, what questions customers are likely to ask, and how a reseller who supplies SOLASOLV® screens can answer every one of those questions with confidence.
Why Type Approval Is a Reseller Responsibility
A marine reseller who sources products from a specialist manufacturer and sells them to ship managers and vessel operators is operating as a link in the compliance supply chain. The end customer depends on the reseller to source a product that is appropriate for the application. In the navigation bridge window application, appropriate means Type Approved.
This responsibility exists whether or not the customer explicitly asks about Type Approval. Many ship managers and procurement teams do not know to ask. They assume that a product sold for marine use by a supplier who describes themselves as a marine specialist is already compliant. If it is not, and the vessel subsequently fails a survey or inspection, the reseller who supplied the product will be part of the explanation.
The reseller is the customer’s first point of contact for product advice. If the reseller does not raise Type Approval, the customer has no reason to ask about it.
What Type Approval Means and Why It Exists
This is the first thing every reseller should be able to explain clearly to a customer who is buying marine blinds for a navigation bridge application.
The plain-language explanation
Type Approval is an independent certification from a recognised marine classification society confirming that a product has been tested and found to meet the international safety standards required for use on commercial vessels. For navigation bridge window fittings, it confirms that the product does not impair the officer of the watch’s outward visibility, which is required by IMO SOLAS regulations.
It is not a manufacturer’s own claim. It is an external assessment by an organisation that is recognised by flag states, port state control authorities, and classification society surveyors worldwide.
Why it is required
IMO SOLAS regulations require that navigation bridge window fittings on commercial vessels do not impair outward visibility. IMO Resolution MSC.64(67) is the specific reference. Type Approval from a recognised classification society is the accepted mechanism by which compliance with this requirement is independently confirmed. Without it, there is no independent evidence that the product meets the standard.
What happens without it
A vessel found to have non-Type Approved fittings on the navigation bridge during a port state control inspection may receive a deficiency notice and be required to rectify the situation before sailing. In serious cases the vessel may be detained. The deficiency is recorded on the Paris MOU database, visible to port state control authorities across 27 European and North Atlantic nations. The cost of replacement manufacture, urgent freight, and repeat installation significantly exceeds the cost of supplying the correct product in the first place.
The Four Classification Societies What Resellers Need to Know
There are four leading classification societies that issue Type Approval for marine blinds and anti-glare screens. Resellers need to understand which one is relevant to the customer’s vessel:
| Classification Society | Primary Vessel Coverage | When to Recommend This Approval |
|---|---|---|
| Lloyd’s Register | UK-flagged vessels and majority of global maritime nations | When the customer’s vessel is UK-flagged or classed by Lloyd’s Register |
| DNV | Offshore sector, North Sea, Norwegian Continental Shelf | When the customer’s vessel is classed by DNV or operating in the North Sea offshore sector |
| ABS (American Bureau of Shipping) | US-flag vessels and internationally operating commercial shipping | When the customer’s vessel is US-flagged or classed by ABS |
| RINA (Registro Italiano Navale) | EU flag states and Mediterranean and international markets | When the customer’s vessel is EU-flagged or classed by RINA |
SOLASOLV® screens hold Type Approval from all four of these societies simultaneously. This means that for any customer, regardless of which classification society their vessel uses, a reseller supplying SOLASOLV® screens can confirm the product is appropriately approved. There is no need to determine the customer’s classification society in advance to know the product is covered.
The Six Things Every Reseller Should Tell Their Customer
When supplying marine blinds or anti-glare screens for a navigation bridge application, a reseller who covers the following six points protects both the customer and the commercial relationship:
1. The product requires Type Approval for a navigation bridge application
Tell the customer that navigation bridge window fittings on commercial vessels must hold Type Approval from a recognised classification society. This is not a recommendation, it is a regulatory requirement. A product without Type Approval cannot be confirmed as meeting IMO SOLAS navigation bridge visibility requirements.
2. SOLASOLV® holds all four leading Type Approvals
Tell the customer that SOLASOLV screens hold Type Approval from Lloyd’s Register, DNV, ABS, and RINA simultaneously, the only marine anti-glare screen in the world with all four approvals at the same time. This means the product is covered regardless of the vessel’s classification society or flag state.
3. The certificate is available and current
Tell the customer that you can provide copies of the Type Approval certificates from all four classification societies. Offer to include these with the order documentation. A customer who receives the certificates with their order has everything they need for their vessel’s compliance file. A customer who has to chase for them loses confidence in the supplier.
4. The product is see-through outward visibility is fully maintained
Many customers ask whether the screen will block their bridge officers’ view. Tell them clearly that SOLASOLV® screens are transparent by design. When deployed, the officer of the watch retains a completely clear, undistorted outward view at all times. This is confirmed by the Type Approval testing process, which specifically assesses navigation bridge visibility performance.
5. The performance figures
Share the confirmed performance figures with the customer. SOLASOLV screens reduce solar glare by up to 93%, solar heat by up to 87%, and UV radiation by up to 99%. These figures are from the manufacturer’s technical data sheet and are confirmed by the Type Approval process. The product data sheet is available for the reseller to include with any customer quotation.
6. Every screen is custom-made to the window dimensions
Tell the customer that every SOLASOLV® screen is manufactured to the specific dimensions of the window being supplied. There is no standard size. This means the reseller must provide accurate window dimensions to Solar Solve before the order is placed. Point the customer to the measuring guide and offer to assist with confirming the correct measurements.
Questions Customers Will Ask And How to Answer Them
| Customer Question | What the Reseller Should Say |
|---|---|
| Is this product approved for use on my vessel? | Yes. SOLASOLV® holds Type Approval from Lloyd’s Register, DNV, ABS, and RINA simultaneously. Whatever classification society your vessel uses, the product is covered. I can provide the specific certificate with your order. |
| Will it affect the view from the bridge? | No. SOLASOLV® screens are see-through by design. When deployed, your bridge officers retain a completely clear, undistorted view through the window at all times. This is confirmed by the Type Approval testing. |
| What does it actually do? | It reduces solar glare by up to 93%, solar heat by up to 87%, and UV radiation by up to 99%. Your bridge officers get a comfortable working environment without losing any of the forward visibility they need. |
| Can I see the certificate? | Yes. I can provide copies of the Type Approval certificates from Lloyd’s Register, DNV, ABS, and RINA with your order. They’re also available to download from solasolv.com/downloads/. |
| How long will it take? | Every screen is custom-made to your window dimensions in South Shields, UK. Lead time depends on the number of screens and current production schedule. I’ll confirm the lead time when I submit your order. |
| What if it doesn’t fit? | The screens are manufactured to the dimensions you provide. We’ll confirm the window measurements before placing the order and Solar Solve can review drawings if you have them. Getting the dimensions right at the start avoids any sizing issues. |
| Is there a guarantee? | Yes. SOLASAFE® cassette screens carry a seven-year manufacturer’s guarantee. |
How to Provide Type Approval Documentation to Customers
The most professional and commercially effective approach is to include the Type Approval certificate copies with every order where the product is being supplied for a navigation bridge application. This requires no additional effort from the reseller Solar Solve makes all four certificates available for download.
- Download all four certificates from the Solar Solve downloads page
- Include copies with the quotation and with the order delivery
- Advise the customer to retain copies for their vessel’s compliance documentation file
- Note in your order documentation that the product supplied holds Type Approval from Lloyd’s Register, DNV, ABS, and RINA
A customer who receives the certificates with their order does not need to chase the reseller for documentation after delivery. They have everything they need in one package. This is a straightforward differentiator from any supplier who does not provide this service as standard.
What Getting Type Approval Right Means for Reseller Margin
A reseller who communicates clearly about Type Approval and supplies a fully certified product is protecting their margin in two ways:
Preventing post-delivery complications
A non-approved product that fails a survey creates a replacement cycle: credit note, replacement manufacture, additional freight, repeat installation, customer complaint management. Each of these costs is a charge against the original gross margin on the order. A correctly specified and approved product removes all of these from the equation.
Building customer confidence and repeat business
A customer who receives clear Type Approval information with their order, along with the actual certificates and performance data sheet, has a professional experience that reflects well on the reseller. That customer is more likely to return for the next vessel in the fleet and more likely to recommend the reseller to other operators. The investment in communicating Type Approval correctly pays back across the customer relationship, not just the individual order.
For more information on how Solar Solve supports resellers with product selection, documentation, and compliance guidance, read What Marine Resellers Should Expect from a Reliable Blind Supplier.
Frequently Asked Questions
What do marine resellers need to tell customers about Type Approval?
Marine resellers need to tell their customers that navigation bridge window blinds and anti-glare screens must hold Type Approval from a recognised classification society to meet IMO SOLAS requirements. They should explain what Type Approval means, which society’s approval is relevant to the customer’s vessel, how to verify the certificate is genuine and current, and what the compliance risk is of specifying a non-approved product.
Which classification societies issue Type Approval for marine blinds?
The four leading classification societies are Lloyd’s Register, DNV, ABS (American Bureau of Shipping), and RINA (Registro Italiano Navale). SOLASOLV screens hold Type Approval from all four simultaneously, the only marine anti-glare screen in the world with this combination of approvals.
Does a Type Approval certificate expire?
Yes. Type Approval certificates must be renewed and the manufacturer’s quality management system is audited annually as part of the renewal process. A certificate that has lapsed is not valid as compliance evidence. Resellers should always request a current certificate and check the renewal date before advising customers that the product is fully approved.
What is the reseller’s liability if they supply a non-Type Approved marine blind?
A reseller who supplies a non-Type Approved product for a navigation bridge application may face claims from the vessel owner or operator if the product fails a classification society survey or port state control inspection and requires replacement. The cost of replacement manufacture, urgent freight, and repeat installation can significantly exceed the value of the original order.
How can a reseller verify SOLASOLV® Type Approval certificates?
All four SOLASOLV® Type Approval certificates are available to download from the Solar Solve downloads page. Each certificate names the product, the manufacturer, the classification society, the approval number, and the date of issue.
