Why are lifting appliances ‘thoroughly examined’
A lifting appliance generally has no ‘redundancy’– so a single failure is enough to cause a major accident.
Various national regulatory schemes require that lifting appliances
should be thoroughly examined by a ‘competent person’ at least once every 12 months. Some legal frameworks may require more frequent examinations, depending on the national authority, the competent person, and whether the equipment is used for lifting personnel.
Lifting appliances are examined in accordance with
two main legal frameworks, depending on the type of equipment and its purpose.
•
Ships’ deck cranes, engine room cranes, and lifting equipment are examined in accordance with:
- the Merchant Shipping Regulations
- flag state requirements
- International Labour Organization (ILO) Convention 152, where it applies.
Ship-mounted life saving appliances are examined in accordance with:
- Safety Of Life At Sea (SOLAS) 1974
- International Maritime Organization (IMO) LSA Code
- the IMO Maritime Safety Committee (MSC) circulars
- individual flag state requirements.
Classification societies such as Lloyd’s Register offer two survey and examination services
for lifting appliances (excluding LSA davits):
• certification
• classification
Classification is used in two situations:
• Mandatory – where the lifting appliance is the essential feature of a classed
ship. This applies for example to a heavy lift crane on a heavy lift barge, or lifting
arrangements for diving operations on diving support ships.
• Optional – when the owner requests classification, even though the lifting appliance
may not be an essential feature of a classed ship.
A lifting appliance generally has no ‘redundancy’– so a single failure is enough to cause a major accident.
Various national regulatory schemes require that lifting appliances
should be thoroughly examined by a ‘competent person’ at least once every 12 months. Some legal frameworks may require more frequent examinations, depending on the national authority, the competent person, and whether the equipment is used for lifting personnel.
Lifting appliances are examined in accordance with
two main legal frameworks, depending on the type of equipment and its purpose.
•
Ships’ deck cranes, engine room cranes, and lifting equipment are examined in accordance with:
- the Merchant Shipping Regulations
- flag state requirements
- International Labour Organization (ILO) Convention 152, where it applies.
Ship-mounted life saving appliances are examined in accordance with:
- Safety Of Life At Sea (SOLAS) 1974
- International Maritime Organization (IMO) LSA Code
- the IMO Maritime Safety Committee (MSC) circulars
- individual flag state requirements.
Classification societies such as Lloyd’s Register offer two survey and examination services
for lifting appliances (excluding LSA davits):
• certification
• classification
Classification is used in two situations:
• Mandatory – where the lifting appliance is the essential feature of a classed
ship. This applies for example to a heavy lift crane on a heavy lift barge, or lifting
arrangements for diving operations on diving support ships.
• Optional – when the owner requests classification, even though the lifting appliance
may not be an essential feature of a classed ship.
