Guide to Marine EMC

Regulations, Tests & Preparation

Elite Electronic Engineering, Inc.

1516 Centre Circle, Downers Grove, IL 60515
630-495-9770 | www.elitetest.com
Complete EMC & Environmental Stress Testing
 Contents

1 The Marine EMC Environment

2 Recreational Craft Regulations

3 Commercial Ships Regulations

4 Conformity Assessment

5 Preparation for Testing

This guide describes the electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) and wireless device regulations that
apply to marine equipment and systems. It covers regulatory requirements for recreational boats
and commercial ships in the United States, Canada, and the European Union. The broader
application of the commercial shipping regulations also extend globally through individual country
agreements to follow the International Maritime Organization Convention for the Safety of Life At
Sea (SOLAS).

These regulations are developed by marine industry manufacturers along with national governments
to ensure the safety of boating and commercial shipping. In addition, this guide identifies national
spectrum agency regulations that ensure reliable radio communications for citizens.
 Electromagnetic Compatibility for
1 the Marine Environment
Recreational Craft Electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) addresses two concerns;
EMC Environment first, the ability of a device to limit its radio frequency emissions
• Internal combustion engines so it doesn’t interfere with other nearby devices (in particular
• Handheld wireless transmitters radio receivers); and second, the ability of a device to operate
• Close proximity to harnesses and as required in the presence of electrical and electromagnetic
electronic controls interference and other electrical threats.
• Non-metallic hulls and structures The electromagnetic environment for recreational craft is
unique. For instance, they’re typically small spaces and RF
Commercial Ship
transmitters and communications receivers used on board are
EMC Environment
in close proximity to controls, wiring harnesses, and other
• Receivers at 156-165MHz,
2.182Mhz wireless devices.
• High Power Navigation Radar The electromagnetic environment for commercial ships
• Long-range Communications includes high power communication radios and navigation
Transmitters radar. Unsurprisingly, the reliability of these devices is critical
• Heavy Electro-mechanical to the safety of the ship and to nearby passing vessels: radios
Machinery
are used to communicate potentially life-threatening conditions
and to receive distress signals from other vessels, so it’s vital
that on-board radio receivers are not interfered with by other
electrical and electronic systems.

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Automotive EMC Testing

Recreational Craft
2 EMC Regulations
American Boat and Yacht For recreational craft, the EMC requirements in the US, Canada,
Council (ABYC) and the European Union include standards for the entire boats, as
well as for electronic modules and wireless transmitters. Not all
ABYC S-31 includes electrical markets have the same requirements, so boat builders and other
and EMC requirements for marine equipment manufacturers need to identify the appropriate
recreational craft and marine standards and conformity assessment processes for the markets
equipment. This standard is they serve and for the types of equipment they provide.
voluntary and is a well
This guide addresses only EMC requirements. Many other marine
recognized industry practice. It
regulations exist for water craft, such as those for boat
is not truly a government
construction and certification, life-saving equipment, and fire
regulatory requirement or a
extinguishers (to name a few). For marine safety regulations other
“certification” . Compliance with
then EMC, manufacturers should consult with the US Coast
ABYC-S31 typically covers the
Guard, Transport Canada, and the European Union Recreational
requirements for most other
Craft Directive.
countries.
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Recreational & Pleasure Craft

EMC Regulations for Whole

Boats/Vessels
In the United States, there are no government mandated EMC
regulatory requirements that apply to whole boats from either
the FCC or the US Coast Guard.
However, in Canada and in the European Union there are RF
emissions standards for boats having spark-ignition internal
combustion engines. These requirements apply to boats having
hull lengths up to 15 meters. The tests and limits follow the
international standard CISPR 12, which is intended to protect
off-board receivers. Off-board receivers in this context generally
include domestically used TV and sound radio receivers. These
requirements protect receivers over the range of 30MHz-
1000MHz.

In Canada, the radiated emissions requirement ICES-002 is the

whole boat emissions test standard. It references the Canadian
standard CAN/CSA-C108.4-06, which tailors CISPR 12:2001 to
apply limits for broadband emissions only.

In the European Union, EN 55012 is the harmonized standard

for the CE Marking EMC Directive and the radiated emissions
requirement for boats with internal combustion engines. It
In general there are no references CISPR 12:2007 and includes both broadband and
government mandated narrowband emissions limits.
whole boat “immunity”
standards. However boat
builders should perform a
risk assessment to
address potential hazards
for an assembled boat .
Recreational craft should
be configured with
subsystems that are EMC
robust.

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Recreational & Pleasure Craft

EMC Regulations
for Electronic Subassemblies
Electronic subassemblies (ESAs) are individual components and
controls placed on-board to provide propulsion, steering, and other
boat safety or enhancement functions. Electronic sub-assemblies
include modules integrated by the boat-builder at the time of initial
manufacturing; devices added by value-added resellers; as well as
aftermarket products added by the boat owner. ESAs may be digital
electronics or electronic modules with wireless functionality.
Different requirements apply for digital ESAs compared to devices
that are RF transmitters and receivers.

In the US, the FCC requirements for digital electronics are in

47CFR Part 15B. However, the FCC provides an exemption for
unintentional radiators used exclusively on transportation vehicles,
including boats, so digital devices used exclusively on boats are
exempt from formal digital device testing (see 15.103(a)).

In Canada, ICES-003 is the requirement for digital devices.

Products that are not factory installed by the boat-builder must
comply with ICES-003. These requirements follow the international
standard CISPR 22 for Information Technology Equipment (ITE)
applying the Class B limits for radiated emissions.

In the European Union, the Recreational Craft Directive (RCD)

2013/53/EU establishes the regulations for recreational boat safety.
The technical requirements are posted as harmonized standard in
the Official Journal (OJ) for the RCD. For example, EN 25197
Harmonized standards for identifies requirements for electrical/electronic steering, shift and
the Recreational Craft throttle and dynamic position control systems and these
Directive are posted on requirements include EMC. Standards listed in the RCD OJ for a
the Europa website. specific boat system should be applied first for a the technical
Link to ec.europa.eu and assessment. When a device specific standard is not listed in the
search “Official Journal RCD OJ then EN 60092-507:2015 is the generic technical standard
Harmonized Standards for boat electrical systems and it will apply.
Recreational Craft EN 60092-507 covers pleasure craft measuring 24-50 meters and it
Directive” specifies EMC per IEC 60533 and IEC 60945 for recreational and
commercial vessels.
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Recreational & Pleasure Craft

EMC Regulations
for Wireless Devices
Wireless devices used on recreational craft must comply with
spectrum agency requirements, such as those of the FCC; Canada
Innovation, Science, and Economic Development (ISED); and
European Union Radio Equipment Directive (RED). In certain
cases, marine safety agency regulations (i.e., USCG) and Marine
Equipment Directive also apply.

The FCC regulations for marine band radio communication

equipment are covered in FCC Part 80. For low-power transmitters
—such as Bluetooth, WiFi, or Zigbee—the Part 15 regulations
apply. Cellular transmitters integrated on boats will need to comply
with Part 22, 24, or 27. Any type of intentional transmitter (i.e., low-
power or licensed) used on a recreational craft will need to comply
with testing and certification before it can be brought to market.
The Canadian regulations for marine band radios and low-power
transmitters are mostly aligned with those of the FCC. Marine band
Canadian RSS standards (188/182/288/238) apply for VHF safety
bands and radar. For low-power transmitters (such as Bluetooth,
WiFi, or Zigbee) the RSS-210 and RSS-247 apply. Cellular
transmitters integrated on boats will need to comply with Canadian
telecom standards. Similar to FCC, intentional transmitters used in
Europe will need to be tested and certified to Canadian transmitter
regulations before put into operation.

In the European Union, the Radio Equipment Directive (RED) is the

Equipment manufacturers regulatory requirement for low-power transmitters and certain
should confirm if the marine band systems. Low-power transmitters and receivers will
transmit frequency is
need to comply with the RED requirements for effective use of
allowed in the markets
spectrum, EMC, and electrical safety.
where their wireless product
is used. Radio communication and navigation equipment in the EU that fall
under the scope of the IMO SOLAS Convention will also need to be
type approved per the Marine Equipment Directive (MED).

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 Commercial Ship EMC
3 Regulations
US Coast Guard The International Maritime Organization (IMO) is branch of the
46 CFR Part 161- for marine safety United Nations responsible for developing the regulatory framework
47 CFR Part 80- for spectrum for merchant ships engaged in international travel. In particular the
IMO treaty on the International Convention for the Safety of Life at
Transport Canada Sea (SOLAS) requires country signatories to comply with safety
RSS standards for Spectrum standards and processes, some of which reference to EMC
standards.
Marine Equipment Directive The IMO SOLAS requirements are comprehensive and cover all
(MED) 96/98/EC aspects of a ship’s design, construction, and functional systems
including communications, navigation, machinery, electrical
installations, and fire safety.

As of March 2016, the IMO reported 162 countries signed to the

SOLAS Convention, which covers about 99% of merchant ships
around the world in terms of gross tonnage.

Merchant ships flagged in the United States must comply with US

Coast Guard requirements. As a signatory to the IMO treaties, the
US has incorporated the IMO SOLAS Conventions into its maritime
regulations.

Similarly, Canada is a SOLAS treaty signatory and the commercial

shipping regulations through Transport Canada also adopt the IMO
SOLAS Conventions as the foundation for their maritime regulations.

In the European Union, the Marine Equipment Directive (MED)

96/98/EC is the regulatory requirement for commercial ships.
European flagged ships must comply with the requirements in the
MED, which are based on the SOLAS convention.

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IACS Members In order to confirm that a ship’s electrical systems comply with the
• Lloyd's Register SOLAS Conventions, the maritime industry has adopted a type-
• Bureau Veritas approval process for the evaluation, test, and certification of
• Croatian Register of Shipping
electrical devices for regulatory compliance. The type-approval
• Registro Italiano Navale
• American Bureau of Shipping process is referred to as “marine classification” and the
• DNV GL organizations that perform the marine certifications in accordance
• Nippon Kaiji Kyokai (ClassNK) with SOLAS regulations are called “classification societies.”
• Russian Maritime Register of Shipping
• Polish Register of Shipping There are over 50 classification societies that engage in the type-
• China Classification Society approval of marine equipment. Of the 50, twelve are members of
• Korean Register of Shipping the International Association of Classification Societies (IACS). The
• Indian Register of Shipping IACS is a non-governmental industry organization and provides
oversight to the type-approval process. The IACS also facilitates the
development of consensus standards and test methods that
enhance maritime safety. For EMC, the IACS unified requirements
UR E10 cover standards for equipment on commercial ships. Each
class society can set more stringent requirements, but the UR E10
are the minimum.

The SOLAS conventions are supplemented with updates and IMO

Resolutions such as A.813(19):1995, which calls for IEC
publications 533 and 945 as the EMC operational and safety for
electrical and electronic systems on ships. Other similar IMO
Resolutions include A.694(17), which establishes a standardized
approach to Global Maritime Distress and Safety Systems
(GMDSS).

The IACS standard UR E10 along with most commercial ship EMC
regulations in the US, Canada, and the European Union follow IEC
60533 and IEC 60092-504 for electrical equipment and IEC 60945
for radio communication and navigation systems. These tests
evaluate a product from the EMC and safety perspective. Other
transmitter specific tests may also apply for radios and radar.

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 The EMC requirements specified in IACS UR E10 include both radio
IACS UR E10 frequency immunity and emissions. They also cover electrical steady
EMC Regulations state and transient immunity tests.

Tests, Levels, Limits Most marine classification societies have EMC standards that prescribe
test methods, levels, and limits, but they typically follow the IACS E10
requirements. For example,
Power Supply variations:
AC Combinations +/- 6 & 10 % Voltage , +/-5% Lloyd’s Register- Test Specification 1 July, 2015
Freq Variations
AC Transient Comb +/- 20% Voltage, +/- 10%
DNV-GL- DNVGL-CG-0339 Nov, 2015
Freq Variations
The immunity test levels and test methods are generally consistent with
DC +/-10% voltage tol, 5% voltage cyclic var, 10%
ripple the generic EMC standards for the industrial environment. The power
supply variations test and the conducted low-frequency test are unique
Electrostatic Discharge to the marine environment.
IEC 61000-4-2
Contact discharge: 6kV In addition to performing the test at the prescribed immunity levels,
Air discharge: 2kV, 4kV, 8kV manufacturers need to evaluate the performance of the device and
apply the correct performance criterion. Critical systems and for
Radiated Susceptibility continuous phenomena (Performance Criteria A) typically must
IEC 61000-4-3
80 MHz to 2 GHz, 10V/m continue to operate as intended during and after the test with no
80%AM modulated at 1kHz degradation of performance or loss of function. Performance criterion B
for transient phenomena allows degradation or loss of function or
Conducted Low Freq Immunity performance that is self-recoverable. However no change of actual
AC Mains- 10% of Vnom to 15th harmonic
reducing to 1% at 100th & 1% 100th-200th min operating state or stored data is allowed.
3Vrms, max 2W.
DC Mains- 50Hz-10kHz at 10% of Vnom max 2W.

Conducted Radio Freq Immunity

IEC 61000-4-6
Marine EMC Standards
AC, DC, I/O ports & signal control lines: 150kHz- IACS UR E10
80MHz
3Vrms, 80% AM 1kHz 80%AM modulated at (IEC 60549 / IEC 60533 / IEC 60092-504)
1kHz. [10Vrms at 10 spot frequencies]

The conducted (CE) and radiated emissions (RE) standards for marine
Contact
Electrical Fast Transients
IEC 61000-4-4 applications cover a wider frequency range than general purpose
2kV L-E, 1kV Signal & I/O leads Tr=5n / T50=50ns
commercial or industrial EMC standards. CE begins at 10kHz (to
30MHz) and RE begins at 150kHz (to 2GHz). Both CE and RE
Power Line Surge standards apply a more strict limit for equipment used on the bridge or
IEC 61000-4-5 deck zones (Class B) compared to equipment below deck and
1kV L-E, 0.5kV L-E. 1.2 x 50usec, SCC 8 x 20us.
considered general power distribution zone (Class A). The tighter
bridge and deck limits are applied to protect communications and
Conducted Emissions navigation equipment, which are typically in close proximity to these
CISPR 16-2-3
bridge and deck zones. In addition, the 156-165MHz range includes a
AC & DC Mains 10kHz-30MHz Class A or B
very tight emissions limit of 24dbuV/m to protect the marine VHF radio
Radiated Emissions communications.
CISPR 16-2-3
150kHz-2GHz
(24 dBμV/m 156-165MHz) Class A or B

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 Recreational Craft
1) Determine All Applicable
Requirements

2) Perform Testing and Analysis

3) Prepare Technical File

4) Label Device and Issue DoC

5) Maintain Technical File and

Continuing Compliance

Conformity Assessment-
4 Recreational Craft
Canada Product Markings For recreational craft and pleasure boats, the EMC conformity
assessment process is a manufacturer’s self declaration.
• ICES-002 Compliance:
In Canada, a manufacturer declares compliance for boat level
“CAN ICES-2/NMB-2”
emissions testing per ICES-002, and for electronic sub assemblies
per ICES-003. Compliant products need to be labeled with the
• ICES-003 Compliance:
appropriate statements and information. In Canada and the US,
* Class A or B
“CAN ICES-3 (*)/NMB-3(*)” intentional transmitters must be certified and labeled accordingly.
In Europe, the EMC conformity assessment process for an entire
EU Product Markings include : boat (EN 55012) and for electronic systems per the RCD or EMC
Directives is typically a manufacturers self declaration. Radio
“CE” Mark transmitters are also self-declared compliant, but a notified body
Manufacture Name may be required when a harmonized standard is not applied in full.
Manufacturer contact information
Product tradename

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 Commercial Ships
1- Determine Commercial 6- Perform EMC testing with
vs. Rec Type Approval vs. CE Class Society Surveyor for On-
site witness if required .

2- Request test services 7- Notified Body completes

proposal & schedule testing Production QA examination

8- Submit all revised and

3- Request Class Society completed documents to
Surveyor services proposal & the Class Surveyor
schedule witness

9- Class Society issues

4- Prepare test plan
Type Approval Certificate

5- Complete Class Society 10- Manufacturer updates

applications & submit Class Society regarding
documents product changes

The process for commercial marine EMC type approval will depend
Canada Product Markings on the classification agency that is contracted for the service. Each
of the IACS agencies has their own requirements but at a minimum
• ICES-002 Compliance: a completed application is required along with submittal data such
“CAN ICES-2/NMB-2” as drawings, data sheets, and test plans.

The type approval will also require an evaluation of the

• ICES-003 Compliance:
manufacturers ISO 9000 quality management system. In some
* Class A or B
“CAN ICES-3 (*)/NMB-3(*)” cases the quality registration certificates are sufficient but in other
instances a quality system assessment will need to be conducted
EU Product Markings include : by a local surveyor. Some products also may require production
surveillance on an annual basis to confirm continuing compliance.
“CE” Mark
Manufacture Name
Manufacturer contact information
Product tradename

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 5 Prepare for Testing
Manufacturers can take several steps to ensure their marine EMC
Typical Schedule Lead Times
test processes are successful. Good planning and test preparation
EMC Testing at Elite 2-4 weeks are the key.
ENV Testing at Elite 1-3 weeks One of the first is to develop a Test Plan and communicate the
IACS Surveyor Witness Services 8- plan details with the marine surveyors, test lab, and other
12 weeks. conformity assessment service providers. The test plan should
provide the following details:
Elite report completion times 10
days after completion of testing. • Detailed equipment description, photos, software, etc.
• Signal leads, I/O leads, output leads
• Simulated output loads and wired interfaces
• Input power requirements
• Modes of operation during test
• Allowable performance criteria and tolerances
• Sample quantities

The equipment manufacturer will need to provide suitable

harnesses with sufficient cable lengths to extend into an EMC test
chamber. Communications cables such as Ethernet or CAN may
need to be configured with a fiber optic chamber interface. For
those products that include wireless connectivity, the
manufacturer will need to configure the transceiver to operate in
the modes specified for measuring the transmitter and receiver
performance. Detailed operating instructions are always required.

Finally, communicate early with the marine surveyors and test lab
and confirm schedule and availability at least 8 to 12 weeks in
advance. Good planning will ensure your project is completed on
time.

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Contact Elite today…
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Marine EMC testing can be a challenging process, but with the

Let us know how we support of Elite engineers you can rest assured that you’re working
can help you succeed with the most knowledgeable, best equipped, and best value service
with your product provider in the industry. Contact the following Elite personnel to get
your project started on the right path.
development.
Elite phone number: 630-495-9770

Sales Engineers
Why Trust Elite?
• 60+ years of EMC testing John Schmit x 125 jbschmit@elitetest.com
experience Robert Bugielski x 168 rbugielski@elitetest.com
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• 30+ EMC test engineers and Steve Laya x 119 sglaya@elitetest.com
iNARTE organizational
certification Lab Services Scheduling
• 20+ years of continuous ISO
Adam Rohman, x 139 adrohman@elitetest.com
17025 accreditation.
• Combined EMC and Technical Support (Marine)
Environmental Testing in one
location to save time and Stan Dolecki, x 103 sdolecki@elitetest.com
expense for test witnesses Brandon Lugo, x 163 blugo@elitetest.com
Frank Bowes, x 106 febowes@elitetest.com
Craig Fanning, x 112 cfanning@elitetest.com

Technical Support (Regulatory)

Dan Crowder, x 101 decrowder@elitetest.com

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