HPi Verification Services Ltd

11/05/2026

Are you competing in a World Sailing OSR Category 0, 1, or 2 race or currently building a vessel for offshore racing? Did you know that to race, your vessel needs a valid Offshore Special Regulations (OSR) Plan Review certificate?

HPiVS is one of seven bodies officially recognised by World Sailing to perform this safety review for boat hull construction. We conduct the review during a new boat build or on older boats preparing to compete.

Read our guide to find out more: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/world-sailing-offshore-special-regulations-structural-review-a0gbe/

Since 1st of January 2010, World Sailing has required boats that are to be compliant with their Offshore Special Regulations, to have their scantlings certified. World Sailing themselves issue the certificate but a review of scantlings must be performed by a RCD Approved Body / Notified Body that is

07/05/2026

How do you know if a boat battery system will comply with European marine safety regulations? Since the publication of ISO 23625: Small Craft - Lithium-Ion Batteries last year, the safety of batteries on boats and compliance has become a source of confusion for many.

Understanding how to interpret the standards correctly is crucial. Get it wrong and boat manufacturers risk non-compliant installations resulting in costly changes and delays. Over compensate and you might take unnecessary (and expensive) precautions.

Last week, HPiVS held a specialist, interactive workshop to give marine professionals clear guidance on compliance requirements and manufacturer responsibilities for vessels with lithium-ion batteries and electric propulsion systems.

We invited Jochen Czabke, who led the ISO working group that developed ISO 23625, to join our CEO Alasdair Reay and Technical Director Adam Greene for this specialist session. The round-table workshop brought together boat manufacturers, including Sunseeker International Ltd, and other industry professionals for constructive discussion and shared experiences.

Hearing directly from the author of the standard was exceptionally useful. Thank you Jochen for joining us and sharing your in-depth knowledge in such an engaging way. Attendees left with a much greater understanding of how ISO 23625 should be interpreted to ensure safety at sea and a stress-free certification process.

Over the coming months we're carrying out further bespoke training sessions for a number of production boat builders. These will clarify what to do (and what not to do!) to safely provide the Li-Ion battery and electric propulsions systems that customers are demanding

Please contact us to find out more or if you'd like to arrange training for your team.

01/05/2026

We work with an outstanding network of partners from across the world who help us to deliver the highest quality compliance services to our customers.

A big thank you to everyone who was able to join us this week for our Surveyors' Forum in Palma, Mallorca. It was a valuable opportunity to share insights and regulatory updates, strengthen how we work together, and explore new ways to support our customers wherever they (or their vessels) are located in the world.

Among those taking part were surveyors covering Scandinavia, Germany, France, the Caribbean, the USA, and Spain. They included some of the most respected names in the world of marine standards who sit alongside our own team on a number of regulatory working groups to help evolve small craft standards to meet industry needs.

This exceptional global network, combined with our commitment to continuous learning and development, ensures our customers consistently receive the highest standard of support and service. Whether you need CE certification, audits, technical documentation templates, or training to successfully implement regulations, we’re here to help you.

Thank you again to our partner surveyors who were able to join us for this session - we hope to see you (and our other partners who unfortunately could not join us this time!) soon.

27/04/2026

On board the T-2000 Voyager A.H.R.S. earlier this month to carry out our final checks, verifying that this impressive design is meeting the essential safety requirements for the Recreational Craft Directive (RCD). Thanks to the team at Safehaven Marine

For this project, Safehaven are using Module B + C. In simple terms, Module B approves the design type by the Notified Body, and Module C confirms each vessel is built in line with that approved design type by the Manufacturer. This approach is widely used for series production, as it allows multiple boats to be built to the same approved scope design without repeated Notified Body involvement.

If you’re unsure which route is right for your project, we’re always happy to help you navigate the options. More detail on the different RCD modules can also be found in the link below.

22/04/2026

We'll be in Palma for the boat show next week from Tuesday 28th to Thursday 30th April. If you have questions about compliance certification and risk assessment and would like to chat to one of our expert team, please get in touch now to arrange a meeting.

20/04/2026

Workboat owners and operators are being urged by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency and The Workboat Association to act now to avoid missing the deadline for transition to the updated code of safety standards. The advice from the MCA and Workboat Association is: check the code, prepare the vessel, book the survey.

Who?
- Workboat owners and operators with vessels affected by transitional arrangements to the Workboat Code Edition 3. This includes those currently holding five year certification under previous codes, including the Brown Code, its equivalent standard published in MGN 280(M), or Workboat Code Edition 2, Amendment 1.

When?
- The deadline is 13 December 2026 with advice from the MCA and Workboat Association to book now to avoid high demand for surveys at the end of the year causing a shortage of slots, and the potential for vessels having to be tied up while they wait to be seen by certifying authorities.

Get in touch with our expert team for more information on structural assessments.

Maritime and Coastguard Agency and Workboat Association urge operators to get ready for 2026 transition.

17/04/2026

Risk assessment is intended to bridge the gap where innovation moves faster than standards. It provides a structured way to demonstrate safety when established rules or guidance do not yet exist.

It:

- gives confidence to regulators, insurers and stakeholders that new or modified craft remain safe despite novel features or technologies
- provides a practical framework to identify hazards and control risk​
- is scalable and proportionate, from simple changes to complex systems​
- uses core methods: HAZID, Bowtie, FMEA​
- has a focus on real outcomes, ensuring risks are reduced, not just analysed
- applies risk metrics (severity × likelihood) to prioritise actions​
- produces clear mitigations and documented evidence

Read our guide to find out how to use risk assessment for innovative marine products.

14/04/2026

Are you trying to navigate compliance and safety requirements for battery systems and electric propulsion?

We've organised a focused, practical workshop to help manufacturers, designers, and surveyors get to get to grips with this hot topic. The workshop takes place in just over two weeks time on 29 April 2026 in Palma (during the Palma International Boat Show, which we know many of you will be attending). Spaces are strictly limited to maintain the quality of discussion, so please book now (you'll find the link in the comments).

In this session, we’ll share clear, actionable guidance to help you ensure your battery and electric propulsion installations are:
• Fully understood
• Safely implemented
• Clearly compliant

You’ll gain practical insight into:
• Modern battery systems in real-world applications
• Lithium batteries – a structured walkthrough of ISO 23625
• Electric propulsion systems – an in-depth review of ISO 16315
• Risk assessment methodology developed by HPiVS for ICOMIA

Walk away with the confidence to make informed, defensible decisions across design, assessment, and procurement.

📅 29 April 2026, 9:00–15:30
📍 Hotel Mirador, Palma
💳 €295 including working lunch and refreshments

Can’t attend? Get in touch to discuss a bespoke compliance workshop for your team.

09/04/2026

How does risk assessment work for innovative vessels that currently fall outside of the Recreational Craft Directive (RCD) but need a recognised path to demonstrate safety and reassure investors, insurers, and customers?

Earlier this year, our CEO Alasdair Reay spoke to Adria Jover from the IEMA to explain the process. Watch the video below to find out more.

We're currently working with ICOMIAMIA and Nick Swift from Hydrogen Afloat to publish a Risk Assessment Guide for Small Craft. Inspired by similar reference guides in the automotive and rail industries, it provides the marine industry with a globally recognised method to carry out a risk assessment to demonstrate a product is safe.

This process is already being applied to a number of innovative designs, including hydrofoils and hydrogen propulsion, which currently fall outside of the RCD. Risk assessment is also used to demonstrate compliance for lithium-ion storage solutions (BS EN ISO 23625:2025, 7.2), “The arrangement of the energy storage system spaces shall be such that the safety of passengers, crew and vessel is ensured. The safety philosophy for the energy storage space (ESS) shall be documented.”

As the risk assessment format will eventually be formally adopted, boat builders can be reassured they will get peace of mind now and they will also be future-proofed when regulatory certification requirements do catch up.

02/04/2026

Assessing lithium-ion battery installations was the primary area for questions put to Adam Greene, our Technical Director, when he spoke to surveyors and industry reps at the YDSA annual conference last week. Thanks to organisers for inviting us to be one of their 'Ask the Experts'.

Compliance and safety for battery systems and electric propulsion is a hot topic for the industry at the moment and an area where there appears to be significant confusion.

Our Electric and Battery Systems in Practice workshop on 29 April 2026, in Palma (during Palma Boat Show) has been devised specifically to meet the industry's need for more information and clarity. Aimed at manufacturers, designers and surveyors, we'll explain the regulations and the processes to ensure installations are safely implemented and demonstrably compliant.

Cost: €295 including refreshments and short working lunch. Places are limited so book now (link in comments below). Please get in touch if you are unable to attend but are interested in arranging a bespoke workshop for your team. Find out more about the areas to be covered below:

Technical Programme

Modern Battery Systems in Practice
- Lithium chemistries and integration considerations
- Battery management systems and architecture
- DC protection strategies and segregation
- Common installation errors and failure modes
- What compliant systems should look like onboard

Lithium Batteries
A structured walkthrough ISO 23625 covering:
- Installation requirements
- Thermal management and fire considerations
- Ventilation and containment
- Isolation and protection
- Documentation and marking
Each clause is translated into practical inspection guidance.

Electric Propulsion Systems
An in depth review of ISO 16315, with a focus on:
- System architecture and segregation
- Protection against electric shock
- Fault detection and isolation
- Monitoring and alarm strategies
- Integration with onboard systems
The emphasis is on demonstrating compliance in practice.

Risk Assessment Methodology
Developed by HPiVS for ICOMIA, including:
- The Significance Test
- HAZID workshops
- Bow tie analysis
- FMEA for high voltage DC systems
- Risk acceptance and defensible documentation

Speakers:
Jochen Czabke - Seaman Consultants, formerly VP Product Development at Torqeedo
Alasdair Reay - CEO, HPiVS
Adam Greene - Technical Director, HPiVS

27/03/2026

STANDARDS UPDATE: Last week, ISO 8665-2:2024 was 'harmonized', meaning it has been formally approved by the European Commission and adopted as a European Standard. To read ISO 8665-2:2024, alongside helpful additional notes from our expert team on interpretation and applying the standard, subscribe to our Rulefinder online standards resource.

⚡ ISO 8665-2:2024 specifies the requirements for the determination of the power of electric marine propulsion systems when presented for documenting and checking of the declared (rated) power published by the manufacturer.

🚤 This document is applicable to electric systems used for propulsion of recreational craft and other small craft of up to 24 m of hull length.

📄 ISO’s “Small Craft” Technical Committee (TC 188) first published ISO 8655 back in 1994 and then updated it in 2006. At the time, the industry was not focussed on electric propulsion and so this standard was used only to determine the power of reciprocating internal combustion engines.

⚖️ To provide a level playing field for engine manufacturers to declare the rated power of their engines, part 2 of ISO 8665 describes the methods to be used for power declarations of electric motors.