Bulletin 050 – Lifting appliances and Anchor handling winches 1.0

Notice to: Shipowners, Operators, Officers, Flag State Inspectors and Recognised Organisations.

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1. References

a) International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea, 1974, as amended (SOLAS).
b) International Life-Saving Appliance (LSA Code).
c) MSC.1/Circ.1662 Guidelines for anchor handling winches.
d) MSC.1/Circ.1663 Guidelines for lifting appliances.
e) Bulletin 008 – Permits Exemptions and Equivalences Rev.2.0.

2. Purpose

2.1 This Bulletin provides information on the application of SOLAS Reg. II-1/3-13 Lifting appliances and anchor handling winches on Barbadian vessels.

3. Definitions

3.1 Lifting appliance means any load-handling vessel’s equipment:
.1 Used for cargo loading, transfer, or discharge;
.2 Used for raising and lowering hold hatch covers or moveable bulkheads;
.3 Used as engine-room cranes;
.4 Used as store cranes;
.5 Used as hose handling cranes;
.6 Used for launch and recovery of tender boats and similar applications; and
.7 Used as personnel handling cranes.
3.2 Anchor handling winch means any winch for the purpose of deploying, recovering and repositioning anchors and mooring lines in subsea operations.
3.3 Loose gear means an article of vessel’s equipment by means of which a load can be attached to a lifting appliance or an anchor handling winch, but which does not form an integral part of the appliance or load.
3.4 The expression “installed on or after 1 January 2026”, as provided in SOLAS Reg. II-1/3-13, means:
.1 For a vessel the keel of which is laid, or which is at a similar stage of construction on or after 1 January 2026, any installation date on the vessel; or
.2 For vessels other than that specified in 3.4.1 above, including those constructed before 1 January 2009, a contractual delivery date for lifting appliance or anchor handling winches, or in the absence of a contractual delivery date, the actual delivery date of the lifting appliance or anchor handling winches to the ship on or after 1 January 2026.”
3.5 Certified means that the lifting appliance or loose gear and anchor handling winches or associated loose gear have been verified and documented as compliant to the satisfaction of the Barbadian Recognised Organisation (RO).
3.6 Competent person means a person possessing the knowledge and experience required for the performance of duties specified in these guidelines MSC.1/Circ.1662 and MSC.1/Circ.1663, and for Barbadian vessels shall be a Recognised Organisation (RO) surveyor.
3.7 Thorough examination means a detailed assessment carried out by a competent person to determine whether or not the lifting appliance or loose gear and the anchor handling winches or associated loose gear are in compliance with the applicable requirements of the RO.

4. Application

4.1 SOLAS Reg. II-1/3-13, applicable from the 1st of January 2026, shall apply to lifting appliances and anchor handling winches, and loose gears utilised with the lifting appliances and the anchor handling winches.
4.2 SOLAS Reg. II-1/3-13 does not apply to:
.1 Lifting appliances on MODUs;
.2 Lifting appliances used on offshore construction vessels, such as pipe/cable laying/repair or offshore installation vessels, including vessels for decommissioning work, which comply with standards acceptable to the BMSR;
.3 Integrated mechanical equipment for opening and closing hold hatch covers; and
.4 Life-saving launching appliances complying with the LSA Code.
4.3 SOLAS Reg. II-1/3-13 paragraphs 2.1, and 2.4 do not apply to lifting appliances which have a safe working load (SWL) below 1,000 kg. However, lifting appliances shall be permanently marked and provided with documentary evidence for the SWL.

5. Design, Construction , Installation, Maintenance, Operation, Inspections and testing

5.1 Lifting appliances and loose gears installed on or after 1 January 2026 shall be designed, constructed and installed in accordance with the requirements of the vessel’s RO, based on MSC.1/Circ.1663.
5.2 Lifting appliances installed on or after 1 January 2026 shall be permanently marked and provided with documentary evidence for the safe working load (SWL).
5.3 Anchor handling winches and loose gears installed on or after 1 January 2026 shall be designed, constructed, installed and tested to the requirements of the vessel’s RO, based on MSC.1/Circ.1662.
5.4 Lifting appliances installed before 1 January 2026 shall be load tested to the satisfaction of the vessel’s RO after installation and before being taken into use for the first time and after repairs, modifications or alterations of a major character.
5.5 Lifting appliances shall be load tested to the satisfaction of the vessel’s RO no later than the date of the first renewal survey on or after 1 January 2026 or after repairs, modifications or alterations of a major character.
5.6 For load testing of lifting appliances intended for use while the vessel is in port or sheltered waters, the test load, as set out in table 1 of MSC.1/Circ.1663, shall be established using the SWL. For lifting appliances intended for open-sea operations, the test loads shall be to the satisfaction of the vessel’s RO, taking into account the applicable dynamic loads.
5.7 Where the SWL of the lifting appliances is undocumented and design information is not available, e.g. for lifting appliances which are installed on board before 1 January 2026 and the manufacturer no longer exists, the test load shall be calculated using table 1 of MSC.1/Circ.1663, based on a SWL nominated by the company, to the satisfaction of the vessel’s RO.
5.8 All loose gears in use with lifting appliances shall have documentary evidence of a proof test and be retested after repairs, modifications or alterations of a major character to the satisfaction of the vessel’s RO. Where an item of loose gear is tested, minimum test loads shall be to the satisfaction of the vessel’s RO, based on table 2 of MSC.1/Circ.1663.

5.9 Lifting appliances and loose gears shall be subject to thorough examination to the satisfaction of the vessel’s RO:
.1 Upon completion of any load test; and
.2 Annually.
5.10 Where a thorough examination of lifting appliances and loose gear does not form part of the renewal survey or annual survey, verification that a thorough examination of lifting appliances has been conducted/completed to the satisfaction of the vessel’s RO shall take place during the renewal survey under SOLAS Reg. I/7 or the annual survey under SOLAS Reg. I/10, as applicable.
5.11 If on completion of a thorough examination, the competent person considers the lifting appliance and/or the loose gear to be unsafe for operation or not in compliance with the applicable requirements of the vessel’s RO, based on MSC.1/Circ.1663, then that lifting appliance and/or loose gear shall be taken out of service until any deficiency is rectified to the satisfaction of a competent person. The lifting appliance shall be clearly marked “not to be used” and the status should be recorded in a register of lifting appliances and loose gear. While out of service, the relevant actions for inoperative lifting appliances and/or Loose gear as outlined under Sec. 6 below should be followed.
5.12 Load testing and thorough examination of lifting appliances and loose gears shall be documented in any convenient form, provided each entry contains the necessary information, is clearly legible and is authenticated by a competent person. The minimum information to be included in the Certificate of test and thorough examination, as set out in appendix 1 of MSC.1/Circ.1663.
5.13 For anchor handling winches loose gears a commissioning test should be carried out according to the manufacturer’s instructions and the requirements of the vessel’s RO, based on MSC.1/Circ.1662, which provides an equivalent level of safety.
5.14 Anchor handling winches and associated equipment should be subject to a thorough examination to the satisfaction of the vessel’s RO, based on MSC.1/Circ.1662, before re-entering service after any structural repairs or modifications of a major character and after load testing.
5.15 If on completion of a thorough examination or of an inspection, the competent person considers an anchor handling winch and/or a loose gear to be unsafe for operation or not in compliance with the applicable requirements of the vessel’s RO, based on MSC.1/Circ.1662, then that anchor handling winch and/or loose gear should be taken out of service until any deficiency is rectified to the satisfaction of a competent person. The anchor handling winch should be clearly marked “not to be used” and the status should be recorded as outlined in 3.2.4 of MSC.1/Circ.1662. While out of service, the relevant actions for inoperative anchor handling winches as outlined under Sec. 6 below should be followed.
5.16 All loose gear in use with anchor handling winches and associated equipment shall have documentary evidence of a proof test and be retested after repairs, modifications or alterations of major character acceptable to the vessel’s RO.
5.17 For existing lifting appliances and anchor handling winches and existing loose gears utilised with valid certificates under another international instrument, the vessel’s RO shall seek acceptance from the BMSR for a permanent equivalence compliant with SOLAS regulation II-1/3-13.2.4 and 2.5. Such request shall be sent to Ops@barbadosmaritime.com as per Bulletin 008.
5.18 Maintenance and inspection, operational testing and their respective intervals of lifting appliances and anchor handling winches and loose gears shall be in accordance with the manufacturer’s recommendations, industry standards and guidelines or the vessel’s RO considering factors such as the operational profile of the vessel and the lifting appliance and/or loose gear.
5.19 Damaged, broken, worn or corroded ropes, including their terminations connecting loose gear of lifting appliances and anchor handling winches should be inspected and discarded according to manufacturers’ recommendations, relevant industry standards, and international standards (e.g. ISO 4309:2017 on Cranes – Wire ropes – Care and maintenance, inspection and discard) or requirements of the vessel’s RO.
 
6. Inoperative lifting appliances and anchor handling winches

6.1 Whenever an accident occurs to a vessel or a defect is discovered, either of which affects the safety of the vessel or the efficiency or completeness of its lifting appliances and anchor handling winches, the master, shipowner or managers shall report at the earliest opportunity to the BMSR at Ops@barbadosmaritime.com for the request of appropriate permission as per Bulletin 008.
6.2 Except as provided in 6.1 above, while all reasonable steps shall be taken to maintain lifting appliances, anchor handling winches and loose gear to which SOLAS Reg. II-1/3-13 applies in working order, malfunctions of that equipment shall not be assumed as making the vessel unseaworthy or as a reason for delaying the vessel in ports, provided that action has been taken by the master to take the inoperative lifting appliance or anchor handling winch into account in planning and executing a safe voyage.

Revision History: