You must preserve the Register and certificates for gear currently aboard the ship for at least five years after the date of the last entry. See the Record retention guidance in 1918AppI which states this five-year minimum.
A competent person must certify every lifting appliance before it is taken into use for the first time. The appendix defines a competent person and requires initial certification and testing in 1918AppI to ensure the appliance is of good design, construction, and adequate strength.
A "competent person" means someone appointed by the ship's master or the gear owner who has sufficient knowledge and experience to perform the inspections required. See the definitions in 1918AppI for this requirement.
All lifting appliances and every item of loose gear must be thoroughly examined by a competent person at least once every twelve months. This annual requirement is stated in the Periodic examination section of 1918AppI.
Lifting appliances must be re-tested and thoroughly examined at least once every five years in addition to the annual thorough examinations. This five-year retest interval is specified in 1918AppI.
Re-testing and a thorough examination are required after any substantial alteration, renewal, or repair to any stress-bearing part of a lifting appliance. The appendix also allows a separate test of the repaired part in lieu of full in-situ testing if it duplicates the stresses; see 1918AppI on retesting after repairs.
Part I of the Register must contain entries documenting initial certification and all thorough examinations (including annual and five-year tests), as well as re-tests after repairs or renewals. The appendix requires these records to be kept in 1918AppI.
A responsible person must perform regular visual inspections of every item of loose gear before use, and any inspection that reveals a defect must be recorded in Part II of the Register. This requirement is described in the Inspections section of 1918AppI.
No, entries in Part II of the Register need only be made when a regular inspection discloses a defect in the item; routine inspections that find no defects do not require entries. See the recording guidance in 1918AppI.
The Register and related certificates must be kept available to any person authorized by the competent authority. The appendix explicitly states that these documents should be accessible to authorized persons in 1918AppI.
A rigging plan must show the arrangement of lifting appliances; for derricks and derrick cranes it should at least show the position of guys, resultant forces on blocks/guy/wire ropes/booms, position of blocks, identification marks of items, and arrangements/working range of union purchase. See the rigging plan requirements in 1918AppI.
Every lifting appliance must be tested with a test load exceeding its Safe Working Load (SWL) according to the table provided (e.g., up to 20 tonnes = 25% excess; 20–50 tonnes = 5 tonnes excess; over 50 tonnes = 10% excess). Initial tests must not allow exceptions. See the test-load instructions in 1918AppI.
If hydraulic pressure limits prevent lifting 25% in excess of the SWL, it is acceptable to lift the greatest possible load, but generally not less than 10% in excess of the SWL. This exception is described in 1918AppI under test instructions for hydraulic cranes.
Spring or hydraulic balances may be used for repairs or periodic re-tests provided the SWL does not exceed 15 tonnes, the balance is calibrated and accurate within ±2%, and the indicator remains constant for five minutes. These conditions are set out in 1918AppI.
A competent person or firm that witnessed testing must complete the appropriate certificate (Form No. 2 or Form No. 3) stating the date, place, signature, and that no defects or permanent deformations were found and listing the SWL. The appendix provides these certificate forms and instructions in 1918AppI.
Part I must include the situation and description of the lifting appliances and loose gear examined (with distinguishing numbers or marks), the certificate numbers, the type of examination (initial, 12-month, 5-year, repair/damage, etc.), the competent person's signature and date, and any remarks. See the sample Part I form and instructions in 1918AppI.
Form No. 2 must list the description of lifting appliances tested, the angle or radius at which test load was applied, the test load (tonnes), and the safe working load at that angle or radius, plus the name and address of the firm or competent person who carried out the test and the certifying signature. See the Form No. 2 template and instructions in 1918AppI.
Derrick systems should be tested with the ship's normal tackle and the derrick at the minimum working angle to the horizontal for which it was designed (generally 15 degrees), and the angle used during the test should be stated on the certificate. See the derrick test guidance in 1918AppI.
Loose gear is any gear used to attach a load to a lifting appliance that is not an integral part of the appliance; each item of loose gear must be tested and thoroughly examined before first use and undergo annual examinations thereafter, with inspections recorded in the Register as described in 1918AppI.
No new item of loose gear shall be manufactured of wrought iron; existing wrought iron components should only be heat treated to the satisfaction of a competent person and in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions, with any heat treatment and associated examination recorded in Part I of the Register. See 1918AppI.
A thorough examination is a detailed visual examination by a competent person, supplemented if necessary by other suitable means, to reliably conclude whether the lifting appliance or loose gear is safe. This definition and expectation are provided in 1918AppI.
When a defect is found, Part II must record the situation and description of the loose gear inspected, the signature and date of the responsible person who carried out the inspection, and remarks describing the defect and any corrective action; the appendix explains this in 1918AppI.
The forms and guidance in 1918AppI are non-mandatory and provided as recommended international models to assist compliance; the appendix explicitly states it is guidance and does not add to or detract from the enforceable requirements of the standard. See the non-mandatory statement in 1918AppI.
The header should include the ship name, official number, call sign, port of registry, name of owner, register/certificate number, date of issue, issuing authority, and signature and stamp—this identity information is shown on the sample forms in 1918AppI.
Variable load-radius cranes should generally be tested with appropriate test loads at maximum, minimum, and intermediate radii to demonstrate safe operation across the range; this testing guidance is in 1918AppI.
If test weights are not used (for example, if balances are used), this must be indicated in the certificate column for test load. The appendix instructs that any nonstandard test methods be recorded in 1918AppI.
The derricks rigged in Union Purchase must be tested with a test load that exceeds the Safe Working Load (SWL) by the amounts specified in the form. Specifically, test loads must exceed SWL by 25% for SWL up to 20 tonnes, by 5 tonnes for SWL between 20 and 50 tonnes, and by 10% for SWL over 50 tonnes. See the instructions on Union Purchase test loads in 1918AppI for the exact table and requirements.
Union Purchase derricks must be tested at the approved maximum height or angle and with the derrick booms in their working positions. Tests are to be carried out at the approved maximum height of the triangle plate above the hatch coaming or at the angle between the cargo runners, and the booms must be in their working positions to prove the strength of deck eye plates and the Union Purchase system. See the testing location and configuration requirement in 1918AppI.
A firm or a competent person must witness the testing and carry out the thorough examination and then certify the results. The form requires the name and address of the firm or competent person who performed and witnessed the testing, and that person must sign the certificate confirming no defects affecting SWL were found. See the certificate and witness requirement in 1918AppI.
Every item of loose gear must be tested and thoroughly examined before first being put into use and after any substantial alteration or repair that could affect safety. The form and instructions state that testing is required prior to initial use and whenever repairs or alterations affect the gear's safety. See the loose gear testing timing in 1918AppI.
Single sheave blocks must be tested at 4 times their SWL, and multi-sheave blocks must be tested according to the SWL range: for SWL less than 25 tonnes use 2 × SWL; for 25 to 160 tonnes use (0.933 × SWL) + 27; and for SWL over 160 tonnes use 1.1 × SWL. These test load formulas are listed in the loose gear test-load table in the form. See the loose gear test-load table in 1918AppI.
Chains, hooks, rings, shackles, and swivels must be tested at 2 × SWL when SWL is less than 25 tonnes, and at (1.22 × SWL) + 20 when SWL is greater than 25 tonnes. These values are specified in the loose gear test-load instructions. See the test-load requirements for chains and fittings in 1918AppI.
Lifting beams, spreaders, frames, and similar devices must be tested at 2 × SWL when SWL is 10 tonnes or less, at (1.04 × SWL) + 9.6 when SWL is greater than 10 and up to 160 tonnes, and at 1.1 × SWL when SWL exceeds 160 tonnes. The loose gear test-load table in the form sets these test-load formulas. See the test-load table for lifting beams and spreaders in 1918AppI.
The SWL of a rope is determined by dividing the breaking load of the tested sample by the appropriate coefficient of utilization specified for the rope's intended use and SWL range. The form instructs that wire rope must be tested by sample to destruction and gives coefficients (for example, wire rope forming part of a sling uses different coefficients by SWL ranges) that must be used unless a national authority specifies otherwise. See the wire rope sample testing and coefficients in 1918AppI.
The test procedure for wire rope sample testing should follow an International or a recognized national standard. The form explicitly states that the test procedure should be in accordance with an International or recognized National standard to ensure consistent and reliable results. See the wire rope test procedure guidance in 1918AppI.
The forms define a 'tonne' (and in some places 'ton') as 1,000 kilograms. Several notes in the forms clarify that the expression 'tonne' or 'ton' shall mean a ton of 1,000 kg. See the mass unit definition in 1918AppI.
The certificate must record identifying ship details, certificate number, distinguishing number or mark and description of each item of loose gear tested, number tested, date of test, test load applied, and the resulting SWL. The form also requires the name and address of the makers or suppliers and the name, address, date, place, and signature of the person or firm who witnessed and certified the test. See the required certificate fields for loose gear in 1918AppI.
Yes, the form may also be used to certify interchangeable components of lifting appliances. The loose gear instructions explicitly note that Form No. 3 may be used for certification of interchangeable components. See the note on interchangeable components in 1918AppI.
The wire rope certificate must include the nominal diameter, number of strands, number of wires per strand, core, lay, quality of wire (N/mm2), date of sample test, load at which the sample broke, and the safe working load of the rope. The certifier must also state that the rope was tested and thoroughly examined and that no defects affecting SWL were found. See the wire rope certificate fields and requirements in 1918AppI.
The certifier must state that the items were tested and thoroughly examined and that no defects or permanent deformation affecting the SWL were found, and then sign and date the certificate at the place of issuance. The certificate form requires this certification statement and the signature of the responsible person or competent firm. See the certification statement requirement in 1918AppI.
The certificate requests the positions of outboard and inboard preventer guy attachments both forward/aft of the mast and the distance from the ship's centerline, recorded in meters. The form includes fields for (a) forward/aft of mast and (b) from ship's centerline for both outboard and inboard attachments. See the preventer attachment position fields in 1918AppI.
Yes, for recommendations on test procedures the form refers to the International Labour Office document 'Safety and Health in Dock Work' as a recommended source. The forms include notes directing readers to that ILO guidance for recommended test procedures. See the reference to ILO recommendations in 1918AppI.
If a loose gear item undergoes any substantial alteration or repair to parts liable to affect its safety, it must be tested and thoroughly examined again before being put back into use. The instructions explicitly require retesting after alterations or repairs that could affect safety. See the retest-after-repair requirement in 1918AppI.