LOLER & SOLAS

Lifting Equipment provided as work

equipment:

Used for lifting or lowering loads and

includes the attachments used for
anchoring.

LOLER
Loose Gear: Any gear by means of which a
load can be attached to lifting equipment
Certification
A valid certificate and thorough
examination by a competent person should
be in force for every item of lifting
equipment, accessory for lifting equipment
and loose gear.
What are your considerations with regard to any
lifting or loose gear carried onboard your vessel?
 Ordering process – how do you know what
to order? Considerations

Receipt of goods – What checks do you

carry out?

Chief Officer Putting it in service?

Considerations
How often is it checked?

When do you condemn the item?

What are the contents of the Register of Ships’ Lifting Appliances
and Loose Gear?
1. General
2. Instructions – Periodic Examinations and Re-Testing
3. Inspections
4. Certificates
Part I – Thorough examination of lifting appliances and loose gear
Part II – Regular inspections of loose gear

Form 2 – Certificate of test and thorough examination of lifting appliances

Form 2 (U) Certificate of test and thorough examination of derricks used
in union purchase
Form 3 – Certificate of test and thorough examination of loose gear
Form 4 – Certificate of test and thorough examination of wire rope
Who can carry out inspections on lifting equipment?
What inspections would you carry out on lifting equipment?
Examination and Inspection of Equipment
Lifting equipment to be inspected by a competent person.
1. After installation and before being put into service for the first time.

2. After assembly at a new site or location

Inspections where lifting equipment is exposed to conditions causing
deterioration.
1. At least every 6 months for equipment used to lift a person.

2. At least every 12 months (other lifting equipment).

3. In accordance with the manufacturers or ship’s planned maintenance
examination scheme.
4. When exceptional circumstances could jeopardise safety.
Action to take if any defects found.
1. Notify the employer/ person who the equipment has been hired or leased
from.
2. Make a record of the inspection in writing.
If the deficiency involves imminent risk of serious personal injury report to
3. MCA (or relevant enforcing authority e.g. UK – Health and Safety
Executive).
How would you conduct a thorough examination of your deck crane?
 Documentation to Check

1.Prepare the Register of Lifting Appliances and Cargo Handling Gear

• Check existing certificates for ropes and loose gear
• Check survey history of appliance
• Identify any issues from last examination

2. Check PMS and service records

• What has been serviced
• What components have been replaced
• What lubrication has been carried out

3. Ensure everything is in the correct location

• General arrangement plans
• Reeving diagrams
• Block lists
 Items to Examine on the Crane

• Loose gear
• Ropes
• Protection and limit switches
• Winches , brakes and drums
• Built-in sheave units
• Hydraulic cylinders and pins
• Jibs
• Jib heel pins
• Slewing columns
• Pedestal and foundations
 If the lifting appliance does not pass the examination

• Take it out of service and endorse the Lifting Appliance Register

• Condition of class may be imposed
• Restrict the use of the appliance depending on the type of deficiency found
What inspections would you carry out on loose gear?
Testing of lifting gear, accessory for lifting or loose gear.

All lifting gear must be tested by a competent person:

After manufacture of installation.
After any repair or modification which is likely to alter the safe working load or affect the
strength or stability of the equipment.
Testing conducted by a competent person.
Ship’s lifting gear cannot be used unless it has been tested in the preceding 5 years.
After testing the equipment, accessory or gear shall be thoroughly examined and certified for
use by the person carrying out the test.
Certification and Record Keeping
Certificates to be issued within 28 days of a test being conducted.
Certificates must be carried on board the ship.
Certificates or the report of test must be kept in a safe place on board the ship for at least 2
years.
Records of tests and certification are usually kept in the ‘Register of Lifting Appliances and
Loose Gear.’
What would you be looking for as Safety Officer when
conducting an inspection of the Engine Room Workshop?
PUWER 1. Inspection of Work Equipment
• Competent person to inspect the installation of work equipment
and at regular intervals after installation.
• Maximum interval between inspections is 5 years. Reference
should be made to the manufacturer’s maintenance and
inspection recommendations.
2. Regular Maintenance

Checks in • Regular preventative maintenance should be carried out by a

competent person.
• Examination at least once a year checking for, cracks, distortion
and corrosion. If there is suspicion the equipment may be

engine room working correctly it should be taken out of service.

• Thorough and frequent greasing.
• Check condition of all ropes and chains for wear, damage and

workshop corrosion.
• Renew shackles, links and rings when damage is evident.
• Examine structures for corrosion, cracks, distortion and wear of
bearings, securing points.
• Check hollow structures such as gantries or masts for trapped
water inside.
• Test controls, stops, brakes, safety devices regularly.

3. Training
• Only those trained and competent should operate any work
equipment.
• Instruction given on the safe operation of work equipment.
• Understand the relevant sections of the ‘Code of Safe Working
Practices for Merchant Seafarers.’
4. Marking of Work Equipment
• If appropriate equipment should be clearly marked with the safe
working load.
5. Operational Considerations
• All work operations must be properly planned and appropriately
supervised.
How would you know if a wire rope on your vessel is in the
lifting register?
It will have:
• A tag / tally or disc attached to the rope near winch or on
the ferrule of the end connection
• It will be marked with the surveyors or manufactures
stamp
• The serial number and marks will match with the
certificate in the Lifting Register
How would you know when to discard a wire rope?
 Broken Wires
General rule: Broken wires
should never exceed 5% of the
Discard total wires

Criteria for Excessive Wear

• When a rope has lost 10%
Wire Rope of its diameter it should be
discarded and replaced

Corrosion
• Usually due to poor
storage.

A detailed external
examination should compare
the wire against the discard
criteria for each type of wire.
These criteria are determined
in consultation with the
manufacturer and include:
What is the difference between the SWL and Minimum Breaking load?
 Definitions

Terms and Definitions

Breaking Load The maximum load (or force) applied to a
wire/rope in a test which causes it to rupture. BL
Minimum The lowest possible breaking load for a particular
Breaking Load rope product. MBL
(MBL)
Safe Working The maximum safe force that a piece of lifting
Load (SWL) equipment, lifting device or accessory can exert
to lift, suspend, or lower a given mass without SWL
fear of breaking. The SWL should be clearly
marked on equipment.
 The Safety Factor
SAFETY FACTOR
The ratio between the force that will applied to a component and the minimum
breaking strength of the component.

• Safety Factor: For LSA stowage, launching and lifting appliances. Factor of safety
at least 4.5 based on unfavourable conditions, range of list and trim. (MSIS_18)
• Recovery strops and hanging-off pendants – 2.2 times the maximum load on the
lug or attachment
• Gripes –safety factor of 4.5 times. Maximum load on gripes = half the weight of
the boat with no persons inside

Markings on lifeboat davits. Evidence of test:

 ILO v SOLAS

Ships deck cranes, engine room cranes Ship mounted life saving appliances:
and lifting equipment:
• SOLAS
• Merchant Shipping Regulations • IMO – LSA Code
• Flag State Requirements • IMO MSC Circulars
• ILO Convention 152 • Individual Flag State Requirements
 Fall wire block: Factor of safety at least 6
based on tensile strength and materials used
in construction. Proof tested to a load of 2.2
times the working load. Must have certificate
of test

Wire Rope: Size 6 x 36 construction or similar.

Gives flexibility.
Principle causes of
damage: Wire ropes proof tested to 2.2 times the working
load on the drum
1: Corrosion The attachments of the ends of the rope falls
2: Abrasion should be of a type which does not allow water
3: Crushing to lodge in contact with the wire ropes.
4: Jamming
This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-NC For proper maintenance of wire rope falls it is
important that the necessity for keeping them
sufficiently greased over their whole length
should be emphasised to Masters and Mates.

Fall Wire and Blocks

 • The stowage location of ladders on high
freeboard vessels can require them to be
lowered a significant distance to the vessel’s
shell door access.

• This can require large amounts of wire to

be spooled on winch drums.
Principle Causes of Damage
1. Corrosion • Wire used for this purpose must be
compact, have a small diameter and be
2. Abrasion flexible enough to rotate around the
3. Cutting In multiple sheave configurations associated
4. Crushing with these ladders.
5. Fatigue
• Strands constructed of 36 wires give
This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-NC

good flexibility while maintaining shape and

geometry with an independent wire rope
core, reducing the effect of compression and
crush damage.

Accommodation Ladders • (NEPI Wire ropes and their uses)