A crane wire parts while lifting a tender. A passerelle davit fails during deployment. A swim platform lifting mechanism drops under load. These are not hypothetical scenarios — they are real incidents that have occurred on superyachts, and in each case the root cause was the same: inadequate inspection and maintenance of lifting equipment.
Lifting gear on superyachts is subject to some of the most prescriptive inspection requirements in the maritime industry, yet it remains one of the most common areas of deficiency found during surveys and Port State Control inspections. The consequences of non-compliance go beyond regulatory findings — lifting equipment failure can kill.
The Regulatory Framework
LOLER 1998 (Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations)
The Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998 (LOLER) originate from UK health and safety law, but they apply to all UK-flagged vessels and are referenced by most Red Ensign Group registries. Under the Merchant Shipping and Fishing Vessels (Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment) Regulations 2006 (SI 2006/2184), LOLER requirements are applied to ships.
The key requirements are:
- All lifting equipment must be strong and stable enough for its intended use
- Lifting equipment must be thoroughly examined at prescribed intervals by a competent person
- A report of thorough examination must be produced and retained
- Lifting equipment must not be used if a defect has been identified that poses a risk
SOLAS Chapter III and VI
SOLAS Chapter III (Life-Saving Appliances) requires that launching appliances for survival craft, rescue boats, and fast rescue boats are maintained, serviced, and inspected in accordance with IMO Resolution MSC.402(96) and the manufacturer’s requirements.
SOLAS Chapter VI addresses the carriage of cargoes and applies to cargo handling gear, though on yachts this is more relevant to the crane used for tender and stores operations.
ILO Convention 152
ILO Convention No. 152 (Occupational Safety and Health in Dock Work) and the associated ILO Code of Practice on Safety and Health in Ports provide supplementary requirements for lifting operations. While aimed at port environments, flag states and classification societies reference these standards for on-board crane operations.
Classification Society Requirements
All major classification societies (Lloyd’s Register, Bureau Veritas, RINA, DNV) have their own rules for lifting appliances that align with or exceed statutory requirements. Your vessel’s class rules will specify additional requirements — always check the class notation.
What Needs Inspection
On a typical superyacht, the inventory of lifting equipment is larger than most people realise. Every item that lifts a load needs to be on your register.
Comprehensive Equipment Inventory
| Equipment Category | Typical Items on a Superyacht | Often Missed? |
|---|---|---|
| Cranes | Main deck crane, aft deck crane, engine room overhead crane | No |
| Davits | Tender davits, rescue boat davits, stores davits | No |
| Passerelle | Hydraulic or electric passerelle with lifting mechanism | Sometimes |
| Swim platform | Hydraulically operated swim platform (when lifting loads) | Yes |
| Gangway | Self-levelling gangway with integral hoist | Yes |
| Anchor windlass | Windlass and chain stopper (when used for lifting operations) | Sometimes |
| Engine room hoists | Overhead beam with chain block, portable gantry | Yes |
| Lifting accessories | Shackles, slings (wire, webbing, chain), spreader beams, cargo nets | Yes |
| Personal lifting | Bosun’s chair, man-riding harness and winch arrangements | Yes |
| Yacht-specific | Toy crane/garage crane, jet ski lift, submersible launch system | Yes |
Inspection Types and Intervals
LOLER prescribes two distinct types of inspection, and confusing them is a common error.
Thorough Examination vs. Routine Inspection
| Aspect | Thorough Examination | Routine Inspection |
|---|---|---|
| Who | Competent person (independent examiner) | Ship’s engineering staff |
| Frequency | See intervals below | Before each use / weekly / monthly |
| Record | Formal Report of Thorough Examination | Entry in lifting gear register or PMS |
| Legal status | Statutory requirement under LOLER | Operational requirement; supports LOLER compliance |
| Scope | Complete examination of the equipment’s condition, including dismantling where necessary | Visual and functional check of condition, wear, damage |
Thorough Examination Intervals
| Equipment Type | Maximum Interval | Regulatory Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Lifting equipment used for lifting persons (man-riding) | 6 months | LOLER Regulation 9(3)(a)(i) |
| All other lifting equipment (cranes, davits, hoists) | 12 months | LOLER Regulation 9(3)(a)(ii) |
| Lifting accessories (shackles, slings, strops, swivels) | 6 months | LOLER Regulation 9(3)(a)(i) |
| After installation or assembly at a new location | Before first use | LOLER Regulation 9(2) |
| After any event liable to affect safety (e.g., overload, impact damage) | Before further use | LOLER Regulation 9(2) |
The Competent Person
LOLER requires that thorough examinations are carried out by a “competent person.” This is a defined term with specific requirements.
Who Qualifies?
A competent person must have:
- Sufficient practical and theoretical knowledge of the lifting equipment being examined
- Sufficient experience to detect defects and assess their significance
- Independence from the party responsible for maintenance of the equipment
In practice, this means:
- Acceptable: A surveyor from a classification society, a specialist lifting equipment inspection company (e.g., a company accredited to perform LOLER examinations), or an independent marine surveyor with relevant qualifications
- Not acceptable: The vessel’s own Chief Engineer, the crane manufacturer’s service engineer (who also performs maintenance), or any person employed by the vessel’s operator to maintain the equipment
The independence requirement is critical. The person who maintains the equipment cannot also be the person who certifies it as safe.
Finding a Competent Person
For yachts operating in the Mediterranean:
- Classification society surveyors can perform thorough examinations as a separate service
- Specialist companies such as Lifting Equipment Engineers Association (LEEA) members operate in most major yachting ports
- Some flag state surveyors will combine LOLER examinations with annual safety inspections
Record Keeping
The Report of Thorough Examination
Every thorough examination must produce a formal report containing:
| Required Information | Detail |
|---|---|
| Equipment identification | Description, location, serial/ID number, SWL |
| Date of examination | Date the examination was carried out |
| Date of last examination | To verify the interval has not been exceeded |
| Safe working load | As marked on the equipment |
| Identification of the competent person | Name, qualifications, employing organisation |
| Condition | Detailed description of condition, any defects found |
| Conclusion | Whether the equipment is safe to continue in use |
| Next examination date | When the next thorough examination is due |
| Defects requiring rectification | Any defects found, with timescale for rectification |
| Imminent danger | Whether any defect poses a risk of serious personal injury (triggers immediate notification to the enforcing authority) |
The Lifting Gear Register
Beyond the thorough examination reports, every vessel should maintain a lifting gear register that records:
- A complete inventory of all lifting equipment and accessories
- Safe working loads for each item
- Dates of all thorough examinations
- Dates of proof load tests (where applicable)
- Results of routine inspections
- Details of any repairs, modifications, or replacements
- Certificates for new or replacement equipment
Proof Load Testing
Proof load testing is distinct from thorough examination and is required:
- Before new lifting equipment is first put into service
- After any significant repair or modification
- After installation at a new location (in some cases)
The proof load test verifies that the equipment can safely handle loads above its SWL. Standard proof load factors are:
| SWL | Proof Load |
|---|---|
| Up to 20 tonnes | SWL x 1.25 |
| 20-50 tonnes | SWL + 5 tonnes |
| Above 50 tonnes | SWL x 1.1 |
For yacht cranes, which are typically in the 1-10 tonne SWL range, the proof load is 1.25 times the SWL. A crane rated at 2 tonnes SWL must be proof-tested at 2.5 tonnes.
Common Deficiencies Found During Surveys
Based on recurring findings from flag state audits and PSC inspections on superyachts:
| Deficiency | Frequency | Consequence |
|---|---|---|
| Thorough examination overdue | Very common | Detainable deficiency |
| Lifting accessories not included in register | Very common | Non-conformity; may be detainable |
| No competent person certificate on file | Common | Deficiency requiring rectification |
| SWL markings missing or illegible | Common | Equipment must be taken out of service |
| Wire ropes showing broken wires, corrosion, or flattening | Common | Equipment must be taken out of service |
| Webbing slings with cuts, UV degradation, or unreadable labels | Very common | Equipment must be condemned and destroyed |
| Crane limit switches not tested | Common | Operational deficiency |
| No risk assessment for lifting operations | Common | ISM Code non-conformity |
| Swim platform/passerelle not included in lifting gear register | Common | Register incomplete; deficiency |
Routine Inspections by Ship’s Staff
Between thorough examinations, the engineering team should conduct regular visual and functional inspections:
Before each use (pre-operational check):
- Visual inspection of wire ropes for broken wires, kinks, or corrosion
- Check shackle pins and safety catches
- Inspect slings for cuts, abrasion, UV damage, or label degradation
- Test limit switches and emergency stops
- Verify SWL markings are legible
Monthly:
- Lubrication of wire ropes, sheaves, and pivot points
- Inspection of hydraulic hoses and connections for leaks
- Function test of all safety devices
- Review of any pending defects from previous inspections
Record all inspections in the planned maintenance system and the lifting gear register.
Practical Recommendations
-
Conduct a full inventory today. Walk the vessel with the lifting gear register and verify every item is listed. The swim platform, the bosun’s chair, every shackle and sling.
-
Set up a tracking system. Use your PMS to generate alerts 60 days before thorough examinations are due. Waiting until the surveyor asks is too late.
-
Condemn damaged accessories immediately. Cut webbing slings in half and dispose of them. Bent shackles and corroded chain links go in the bin. Do not put them back in the locker “for emergency use.”
-
Brief the crew. Every person who operates lifting equipment should know the SWL, the inspection requirements, and the procedure for reporting defects. This includes bosuns and deckhands, not just engineers.
-
Keep a copy of every report. Thorough examination reports, proof load test certificates, competent person credentials. If it is not documented, it did not happen.
References
- LOLER 1998: Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998 (SI 1998/2307)
- SI 2006/2184: Merchant Shipping and Fishing Vessels (Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment) Regulations 2006
- SOLAS Chapter III: Life-Saving Appliances and Arrangements
- IMO MSC.402(96): Revised Recommendation on Testing of Life-Saving Appliances
- ILO Convention 152: Occupational Safety and Health in Dock Work
- LEEA COPSULE: Code of Practice for the Safe Use of Lifting Equipment
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