HPi-CEproof issues Princess X95 with first ever UKCA RCR cert
Oxfordshire-based company, HPi-CEproof has issued the Princess X95 with the first ever UKCA RCR certificate of conformity, following the new UK Recreational Craft Regulations which came into force on 1st January this year.
HPi-CEproof is currently the only Approved Body empowered to issue ‘UKCA mark’ certificates, enabling compliance with the post-Brexit UK Recreational Craft Regulations.
Celebrating the significance of its appointment, HPi-CEproof auctioned the rights for a boatbuilder to be assessed for RCR certificate number one. Proceeds were split equally between the Blue Marine Foundation (BLUE) and British Divers Marine Life Rescue. No fees were charged for the assessment.
The auction winner, Princess Yachts, chose the fourth off-the-line of its X95 class to receive the UK’s first RCR certificate.
Adam Greene, Senior Naval Architect at Princess Yachts explains: “Our UKCA certificates will use the existing CE marking and technical files as the starting point from which to issue new UKCA certificates. All Princess models will eventually have both CE and UKCA certification, along with conformity statements for US USCG and ABYC rules. HPi-CEproof and HPi Verification Services (Ireland) provide all three requirements for us.”
“We had already safeguarded all of our clients prior to the UK’s exit from the EU by transferring their CE conformity to HPi Verification Services (Ireland), which is a fully approved notified body, operating independently,” adds Alasdair Reay, HPi-CEproof’s CEO. “The UK RCR can use the same compliance assessment documentation, since both regimes apply the same standards and all the compliance documentation was already within the company and reviewed by the same personnel.
“The Brexit vote determined the nation’s desire to set its own rules and so we have these new UK regulations. While it is another hurdle for manufacturers to cross, our work with Princess Yachts on this first ever RCR type approval certificate demonstrates that the threshold is low for those who were already set-up for CE marking their products.
“We’d also like to thank the team at Princess for bidding the highest amount in our auction to obtain the very aptly numbered certificate HPiUK-R0001-T001-I-01-00. It’s been tough in recent months for charities and good to be able to support two environmentally-focused causes close to our hearts.”
