Gear certification requirements

No. An employer must not use the vessel's cargo handling gear until it has been ascertained that the vessel has a current and valid cargo gear register and certificates in the form and content required by the International Labor Office recommendations. See 1918.11(a) for this requirement, which explicitly requires the register and certificates to show that the cargo gear has been tested, examined, and heat treated by or under the supervision of competent persons.

Annual thorough examinations under ILO 152 became required after July 27, 1998, and testing under ILO 152 became required after July 16, 2001. These dates are specified in 1918.11(a)(1) and 1918.11(a)(2).

During the interim periods before the ILO‑152 effective dates, vessels that have cargo gear registers and certificates according to ILO 32 are deemed to meet the requirements of 1918.11(a) as provided in 1918.11(a)(3).

Yes. Public vessels and vessels holding a valid Certificate of Inspection issued by the U.S. Coast Guard pursuant to 46 CFR part 91 are deemed to meet the requirements of [1918.11(a)]. See 1918.11(b).

For U.S. vessels without a valid U.S. Coast Guard Certificate of Inspection, only competent persons currently accredited by the U.S. Department of Labor (OSHA) may make the register entries and issue the required certificates, for either full function vessels or loose gear and wire rope testing as appropriate. See 1918.11(c) and consult part 1919 for accreditation details.

For foreign‑flag vessels, the persons or organizations that may make the required register entries and issue certificates are: those acceptable to any foreign nation; those acceptable to the Commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard; or those currently accredited by the U.S. Department of Labor (OSHA) for the appropriate testing functions. See 1918.11(d) and its subparagraphs d(1), d(2), and d(3).

An employer should verify accreditation by checking that the person or organization is currently accredited by the U.S. Department of Labor (OSHA) for the appropriate function (full function vessels, or loose gear and wire rope testing) as provided in part 1919. See 1918.11(c) and consult part 1919 for the scope and categories of accreditation.

Yes. 1918.11(a) requires that the cargo gear register and certificates show the cargo gear has been tested, examined, and heat treated by or under the supervision of competent persons or organizations authorized to make register entries and issue certificates.

The employer should expect a current and valid cargo gear register and certificates in the form and content recommended by the International Labor Office (ILO) that document: testing, thorough examinations, heat treatment where required, the dates of those activities, and identification of the competent person or organization responsible. These requirements come from 1918.11(a).

Not indefinitely. 1918.11(a)(3) states that ILO‑32 registers were accepted during the interim periods prior to the ILO‑152 effective dates; after the specified effective dates, ILO‑152 requirements (such as annual thorough examinations and testing) apply as set in 1918.11(a)(1) and 1918.11(a)(2).

The requirement in 1918.11 applies specifically to a "vessel's cargo handling gear" as defined in 1918.2. Employers should consult the definition in 1918.2 to determine whether particular gear is a vessel's cargo handling gear or falls under other provisions.

No—unless the foreign organization is one that is acceptable to a foreign nation, acceptable to the Commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard, or is currently accredited by the U.S. Department of Labor (OSHA). For U.S. vessels not holding a valid Certificate of Inspection, entries and certificates must be made only by competent persons currently accredited by OSHA as required in 1918.11(c). See also the options for foreign vessels in 1918.11(d).

Employers should request written documentation or confirmation that the certifier or organization is acceptable to the Commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard, since 1918.11(d)(2) allows certifiers acceptable to the Commandant to perform the required entries and issue certificates for foreign‑flag vessels. If in doubt, contact the U.S. Coast Guard or OSHA for verification.

Loose gear and wire rope testing must be performed by competent persons currently accredited by the U.S. Department of Labor (OSHA) for that specific testing function, as described in 1918.11(c) and referenced accreditation procedures in part 1919. Employers should ensure the tester's accreditation covers loose gear and wire rope testing.

No. Even when valid certificates and a current register are present, an employer must not use gear that is visibly damaged or unsafe; the certificates document past tests and examinations, but safe, current condition must be ensured before use. See 1918.11(a) (certificate/register requirements) and the definition and inspection requirements for vessel cargo handling gear in 1918.51 for guidance on gear condition and inspection.

Yes—provided the electronic or scanned copies are current, valid, authentic, and contain the form and content required by the ILO recommendations specified in 1918.11(a). The standard requires that the employer ascertain the vessel has a current and valid register and certificates; it does not prohibit electronic records as long as they reliably demonstrate compliance.

Part 1919 establishes the accreditation process and criteria by which the U.S. Department of Labor (OSHA) recognizes competent persons or organizations for making register entries and issuing certificates (for full function vessels or loose gear and wire rope testing). 1918.11(c) and 1918.11(d)(3) reference accreditation under part 1919 as the basis for competence.

Only if those certificates meet the ILO form and content requirements and the manufacturer or issuing organization is a competent person or organization acceptable under 1918.11(a)—that is, acceptable to a foreign nation, acceptable to the U.S. Coast Guard Commandant, or currently accredited by OSHA under part 1919. Certificates from a manufacturer that do not meet those criteria would not satisfy [1918.11].

Yes—classification society certificates may be acceptable if the society is acceptable to the vessel's flag state (a foreign nation), acceptable to the Commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard, or currently accredited by OSHA under [part 1919]. See 1918.11(d) for the criteria that make foreign certifiers acceptable.