(www.MaritimeCyprus.com) Deck lifting equipment such as gantry cranes, general cargo crane, provision crane, derrick etc. help in carrying heavy loads/cargo on board ships. As these deck machinery systems are subjected to continuous loading, their parts wear down at a faster rate, thus requiring maintenance at regular intervals of time. Inability to do so can lead to system failure, unfortunate accidents, and loss of lives and property.
The International Maritime Organization (IMO) has adopted a new mandatory regulation for onboard lifting appliances: SOLAS Regulation II-1/3-13. The aim is to provide a uniform level of safety for their design, construction and installation, as well as to stipulate consistent requirements for periodical examinations, load tests, maintenance, inspections and operation.
This new regulation will enter into force on 1 January 2026.
If you operate a SOLAS vessel, the permanently installed lifting appliances must comply with the applicable requirements of the new SOLAS Regulation II-1/3-13, taking into account the associated Guidelines in MSC.1/Circ.1663.
The new SOLAS regulation, provides associated draft Guidelines for Lifting Appliances - MSC.1/Circ.1663.
In general, the Regulation also applies to lifting appliances with a safe working load (SWL) of less than 1,000 kg, unless otherwise stated by the vessel’s flag state administration.
However, it does not apply to lifting appliances on vessels certified as Mobile Offshore Drilling Units (MODUs), nor to lifting appliances on offshore construction ships which comply with other standards acceptable to the Administration.
The Regulation also does not apply to mobile and non-permanently installed lifting appliances and to dedicated life-saving launching appliances according to LSA-Code.
The requirements of SOLAS Regulation II-3/3-13 will vary depending on the the lifting appliances criteria mentioned below.
Lifting appliances which meet the first or second criteria
First criteria:
Keel laying date of ship:
on or after 1 January 2026
Installation date of lifting appliance:
on or after 1 January 2026
Compliance date with Reg. II-1/3-13:
1 January 2026
Second criteria:
Keel laying date of ship:
before 1 January 2026
Delivery date of lifting appliance:
on or after 1 January 2026
Compliance date with Reg. II-1/3-13:
1 January 2026
must comply with the following requirements of SOLAS Regulation II-1/3-13:
A) Design, construction, installation (as per the crane standards of the vessel’s RO)
B) Thorough examination and load test (as per MSC.1/Circ.1663)
C) Maintenance, operation, inspection and testing (as per MSC.1/Circ.1663)
Lifting appliances which meets the third criteria
Third criteria:
Keel laying date of ship:
before 1 January 2026
Installation date of lifting appliance:
before 1 January 2026
Compliance date with Reg. II-1/3-13:
latest at first Class Renewal Survey of the ship after 1 January 2026
must comply with the following requirements of SOLAS Regulation II-1/3-13:
B) Thorough examination and load test (as per MSC.1/Circ.1663)
C) Maintenance, operation, inspection and testing (as per MSC.1/Circ.1663)
Guidelines for Lifting Appliances
The Maritime Safety Committee approved Guidelines for Lifting Appliances (MSC.1/Circ.1663) to ensure a uniform approach to SOLAS regulation II-1/3-13. These guidelines support the application of SOLAS regulation II-1/3-13 for lifting appliances and loose gear.
Lifting Appliances
Loose Gear
General Requirements
Lifting appliances installed on or after January 1, 2026, should be designed, constructed, and installed according to the requirements of a recognized classification society or standards providing an equivalent level of safety.
Lifting appliances should undergo load testing after installation, before initial use, and after major repairs/modifications and retested at least once every five years.
Thorough examinations should be conducted upon completion of any load test and annually.
Loose gear utilized with lifting appliances should be designed and manufactured in accordance with requirements acceptable to the Administration or a classification society.
Demonstration of Compliance
Lifting appliances installed on or after January 1, 2026 should be certified as compliant with SOLAS regulations II-1/3-13.2.1 and II-1/3-13.2.3, including plan appraisal, material verification, survey, testing and examination during fabrication, verification of component certificates including its loose gear, and on-board testing and thorough examination.
Existing lifting appliances with valid certificates under another international instrument issued before January 2026 are considered compliant with SOLAS regulation II-1/3-13.2.4.
All certified lifting appliances should be recorded in the Register of Ship's Lifting Appliances and Cargo Handling Gear, with the Certificate of test and thorough examination attached.
Loose gear should be certified, and certificates of test and thorough examination should be attached to the Register of ship's lifting appliances and cargo handling gear.
Loose gear should be clearly and permanently marked with its unique identification (serial no.) and the SWL.
Maintenance, Inspection and Operational Testing
Maintenance, inspection, operational testing and their respective intervals should be in accordance with the manufacturer's recommendations, industry standards and guidelines or classification society requirements and recommendations acceptable to the Administration, considering factors such as the operational profile of the ship and the lifting appliance.
Lifting appliances are vulnerable to marine environmental conditions, requiring diligent inspection and maintenance to address deterioration and corrosion.
A maintenance manual should be provided by the manufacturer, including inspection regimes, maintenance schedules, repair instructions, technical information, and lists of replaceable parts.
Maintenance and inspections at respective intervals should be in accordance with the manufacturer's recommendations, industry standards and guidelines or classification society requirements.
All loose gear should be considered vulnerable to marine environmental conditions, which may lead to significant and accelerated deterioration and corrosion.
Records of thorough examination, testing, inspection, and maintenance should be maintained in a register of lifting appliances and kept on board.
Inoperative Lifting Appliances and Loose Gear
The master should take the inoperative lifting appliance into account in planning and executing a safe voyage.
Operation of inoperative lifting appliances should be prevented.
Inoperative loose gear should be stored separately from in-service loose gear and marked as being inoperative.
Guidelines for Anchor Handling Winches
The Maritime Safety Committee approved Guidelines for Anchor Handling Winches (MSC.1/Circ.1662) to ensure a uniform approach to SOLAS regulation II-1/3-13. These guidelines support the application of SOLAS regulation II-1/3-13 for lifting appliances and loose gear.
Anchor Handling Winches
Loose Gear
General Requirements
Anchor handling winches should be designed, constructed, and installed according to classification society standards.
Winches should have adjustable speed control, "hold-to-run" operating controls, and tension control to prevent overloading
Winches should have continuous load monitors with audible and visual overload alarms, programmable for lower load levels.
The main control station should be on the bridge with a clear view of the deck; cameras can be used if the view is obstructed.
Winches should have remotely operated spooling devices and emergency release mechanisms operable under normal and dead-ship conditions
Chain stoppers should include an audible alarm when engaged or disengaged and an emergency release functional in all conditions, including dead-ship situations.
After an emergency release, the chain stopper system should be inspected for damage before being put back into service
Loose gear utilized with anchor handling winches should be designed and manufactured in accordance with requirements acceptable to the Administration or a classification society.
All loose gear should have documentary evidence of a proof test and be retested after major repairs or modifications.
Loose gear should undergo thorough examination annually or after any proof test.
Testing and Thorough Examination
A commissioning test should be carried out according to the manufacturer's instructions and classification society requirements.
Periodical testing should be done annually and five-yearly, with the Administration or recognized organization witnessing the five-yearly test.
Thorough examinations should occur during annual surveys, after structural repairs, or after load testing.
Demonstration of Compliance
Anchor handling winches installed on or after January 1, 2026, should be certified as compliant with SOLAS regulations II-1/3-13.2.2.
Winches installed before this date should be certified by the first renewal survey on or after January 1, 2026.
Existing winches with valid certificates under another international instrument acceptable to the Administration should be considered compliant.
Loose gear should be certified to meet the provisions in Section 4 before being put into use.
Loose gear should be clearly and permanently marked with its unique identification (serial no.), safe working load (SWL), and any additional marks required for safe use.
Personnel involved in anchor handling winch operations should be qualified, familiarized with the equipment, and authorized by the master.
Nameplate
Anchor handling winches should have a permanently affixed nameplate with manufacturer details, model/serial number, power supply, wire details, brake holding capacity, line pull, bollard pull, and other specifications.
Detailed specifications can be included in other documentation like the operation/maintenance manual.
Documentation should be unambiguously related to the actual winch using the unique serial number.
Maintenance, Inspection and Operational Testing
A maintenance manual should be provided by the manufacturer, including inspection regimes, maintenance schedules, repair instructions, and technical information.
The manual should also include lists of replaceable parts, spare part sources, model forms, operational test procedures, and preservation information.
Records of routine inspection and maintenance should be maintained and kept on board.
Maintenance and inspections should align with manufacturer's recommendations, industry standards, or classification society guidelines.
Loose gear requires inspection by a responsible person before each use, with focus on wear, corrosion, damage, and certification.
Records of thorough examination, testing, inspection, and maintenance should be maintained and kept on board.
Operations Manual
An operations manual should be provided by the manufacturer, including design, operational, and environmental limitations.
The manual should also include compatible loose gear information, safety instructions, and operating procedures, including emergency procedures.
For winches installed before January 1, 2026, the manual should be developed with original manufacture data and modifications.
Inoperative Anchor Handling Winches, Associated Equipment and Loose Gear
- The master should take inoperative anchor handling winches into account when planning voyages.
- Prevent operation and uncontrolled movement of inoperative equipment using appropriate restraints.
- Store inoperative wires and loose gear separately and record their particulars until repairs are completed and they have been tested and examined
