Article 7Transfer of a ship to the flag of a Member State
1.In the case of a non-EU ship which is to be transferred to the flag of a Member State, that ship shall, during transfer, be subject to inspection by the receiving Member State to verify that the actual condition of its marine equipment corresponds to its safety certificates and either complies with this Directive and bears the wheel mark or is equivalent, to the satisfaction of that Member State’s administration, to marine equipment certified in accordance with this Directive as of 18 September 2016.
2.In cases where the date of installation on board of marine equipment cannot be established, Member States may determine satisfactory requirements of equivalence, taking into account relevant international instruments.
3.Unless the equipment either bears the wheel mark or the administration considers it to be equivalent, it shall be replaced.
4.Marine equipment which is considered equivalent pursuant to this Article shall be issued with a certificate by the Member State which shall at all times be carried with the equipment. That certificate shall give the flag Member State’s permission for the equipment to be retained on board the ship and impose any restrictions or lay down any provisions relating to the use of the equipment.