Rutter Receives Wheelmark for VDR

Rutter Technologies Inc. has received authority to affix the Mark of Conformity (wheelmark) that is granted by the EU to its voyage data recorders (VDRs). The wheelmark signifies that the Rutter VDR-100 is compliant with the EU Council Directive 96/98/EC on marine equipment, also known as the Marine Equipment Directive (MED). Now that the first date for mandatory carriage has passed (July 1st, 2002), the VDR has moved from Annex 2 to Annex 1 of the MED and the wheelmark will be required to sell VDRs. The Rutter VDR-100 is the first voyage data recorder in the world to receive this distinction. The wheelmark was granted on the basis of Rutter’s EC Type-examination certificate and quality system that has been assessed and approved by Bundesamt fur Seeschifffahrt und Hydrographie (BSH) on behalf of the German government. “The Mark of Conformity is recognized by countries around the world,” said Rutter Technologies’ President Byron Dawe, “and to be the first to obtain the wheelmark is confirmation of Rutter’s global leadership in this technology.”