CIRCULARS / HSQE BULLETINS

T0:
MASTER CHIEF ENGINEER

APPLICABLE FOR:
ALL VESSELS TANKER VESSELS TANK FARM

DOCUMENT TYPE:

SAFETY BULLETIN ENVIRONMENTAL BULLETIN HEALTH & HYGIENE BULLETIN TECHNICAL BULLETIN CASUALTY REPORT CIRCULAR LETTER

DOCUMENT NO.

10 18/09/2007
YES N/A NO

ISSUE DATE (dd/mm/yy)

SUPERSEDES EXISTING DOCUMENT? If YES state PREVIOUS DOCUMENT NO. REVISION NO.

N/A

REVISION DATE N/A

SUBJECT: LIFTING GEAR MAINTENANCE GUIDELINES

1. Maintenance responsibility The C/O is responsible for the maintenance of all running gear. The C/E is responsible for the maintenance of all winches, cranes, motors, chain blocks, etc. which should be laid out as per original rigging plan. 2. Marking All derricks, cranes and chain blocks must be clearly marked with their safe working load (SWL) and, where appropriate, the operating angle. All lifting slings, strops, wires and ropes must be clearly marked with their SWL. 3. Lifting wire SWL he SWL of any lifting wire, be it a running wire, sling or strop is deemed to be 20% of its minimum breaking load. In the case of running wires (e.g. cargo runners, topping lifts, etc.) due allowance must be made for the mechanical advantage of any purchase involved. 4. Running wires In addition to the thorough inspection required, the C/O prior to use must examine all cargo runners and topping lift wires. They must be replaced, if there are any signs of deformation, such as kinking or flattening, excessive external corrosion, any signs of internal corrosion, or if in any length of ten diameters the number of visible

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broken wires exceeds more than 10% of the total wires. Running wires must be kept well lubricated. Use grease diluted with 20% white spirit to ensure that the lubrication reaches the core. All running wires and topping lifts (with the exception of E/R crane wires) should be renewed at intervals not exceeding 5 years from the date of fitting. The C/E once per month must examine engine room crane wires. Such wires must be replaced if there are any signs of deformation, such as kinking or flattening, excessive external corrosion, any signs of internal corrosion, or of in any length of ten diameters the number of visible broken wires exceeds more than 10% of the total wires. Engine room crane wires and brake must be tested prior to each major repair period and must be replaced on sailing from the shipyard. Other running wires, unless they are being replaced, must be made available for a full inspection at each major repair period. When necessary, it is permissible to manually splice a running wire, provided such a splice has been inspected by the C/O prior to use. 5. Portable lifting appliances not covered by the register of ships lifting appliances and cargo handling gear.

Definitions
Portable Lifting Appliance (PLA) means all portable cargo-handling appliances for suspending, raising or lowering loads or moving them from one position to another while suspended or supported. Loose Gear (LG) means any gear by means of which a load can be attached to a PLA but which does not form an integral part of the appliance or load. For the purposes of these requirements loose gear is defined as including: Hooks, Blocks, Chains, Shackles, Swivels, Rings and similar items not permanently attached to the lifting appliance. Lifting beams, spreaders, frames and similar items of equipment which are not an integral part of the lifting appliance are also considered as loose gear. Competent Person means the C/O when reference is made to a PLA listed in the Deck Department PLA inventory whilst it means the C/E when reference is made to a PLA listed in the Engine Department PLA inventory. They should have sufficient theoretical knowledge and practical experience to understand the lifting equipment design, its function, to perform calculations, examinations and testing as required.

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Thorough Examination means a detailed visual examination by the competent person, supplemented if necessary by other suitable means or measures, in order to arrive at a reliable conclusion as to the safety of the appliance or item of loose gear examined.

Maintenance and testing

1.

Before being placed in service, all new PLA should be thoroughly inspected and tested by the competent person. 2. PLA and/or LG should be kept in good efficient working order and in good repair. Systematic preventative maintenance should be carried out following any manufacturers instruction. This should include the regular inspection by the competent person to assess whether the PLA/LG is safe for continued use. These inspections are separate from and additional to those required under the following provisions. The interval between such inspections will depend on the character and use of PLA/LG. 3. No PLA and/or LG on board ship is used unless it has been tested by the competent person within the preceding five years. No PLA and/or LG is used unless it has been thoroughly examined: i. by the competent person at least once in every 12 month period, ii. by the competent person following a test, iii. by the competent person after any repair or alteration which may affect the strength of the appliance or of the item. 4. Suitable training of personnel associated with lifting activities is considered essential to support these activities and to optimize the safe use of lifting equipment. Records of appropriate training should be kept readily available onboard.

Tagging / labelling

The maximum Safe Working Load (SWL) should be marked in a conspicuous place in a legible and durable manner, for example by incision or stamping. Where this is deemed impractical by the appointed competent person, the SWL and ID particulars should be recorded on a register, together with details of the equipment precise location. The precise location should be represented in the form of a structural drawing allowing due reference to easily identifiable adjacent structures/ items. The register is then to form an integral part of the Ships Lifting Equipment Register. 1. All PLA and LG must have stamped on, or attached to it, a permanent identification mark through which it can be identified throughout its life span, to enable it to be readily related to its appropriate test certificate. 2. An inventory of the PLA and LG should be maintained by the competent person.

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6. Use of ropes and webbing Rope slings and strops should not be used for lifting purposes. Rope nets and webbing slings must be clearly marked with their SWL. Rope nets and webbing slings must be examined by the C/O every 3 months and should be discarded if there is any evidence of deterioration. 7. Certificates There must be valid certificates on board in respect of all lifting gear, including running and standing wires, lifting wires, slings and strops, all other nets and slings, hooks, blocks and shackles. These must be filed with the vessels certificates file.

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