Lifting appliances and anchor handling winches – SOLAS New Requirements

Introduction

The 107th session of the Maritime Safety Committee was held from 31 May to 9 June 2023. In this regard, Committee adopted the proposed amendments to chapter II-1 of the 1974 SOLAS Convention, in relation to lifting appliances and anchor handling winches. This amendment should be deemed to have been accepted on 1 July 2025 and enter into force on 1 January 2026.

What’s new?

According to the new added definitions, lifting appliance means any load-handling ship'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 stores 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.

Anchor handling winch means any winch for the purpose of deploying, recovering and repositioning anchors and mooring lines in subsea operations.

And, loose gear means an article of ships 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.

Based on the adopted requirements, the following new regulation is added after existing regulation II-1/3-12:

Reg. 3.13

Unless expressly provided otherwise, this regulation shall apply to lifting appliances and anchor handling winches, and loose gear utilized with the lifting appliances and the anchor handling winches.

Notwithstanding the above, this regulation does not apply to:

1. lifting appliances on ships certified as MODUs;
2. lifting appliances used on offshore construction ships, such as pipe/cable laying/repair or offshore installation vessels, including ships for decommissioning work, which comply with standards acceptable to the Administration;
3. integrated mechanical equipment for opening and closing hold hatch covers; and
4. Life-saving launching appliances complying with the International Life- Saving Appliance (LSA).

The Administration shall determine to what extent the provisions of regulations 3-13.2.1 and 3-13.2.4 (as mentioned below) do not apply to lifting appliances which have a safe working load below 1,000 kg.

Reg. 3-13-2.1: Lifting appliances installed on or after [1 January 2026] shall be:

1. designed, constructed and installed in accordance with the requirements of a classification society which is recognized by the Administration in accordance with the provisions of regulation XI-1/1 or standards acceptable to the Administration which provide an equivalent level of safety; and
2. load tested and thoroughly examined after installation and before being taken into use for the first time and after repairs, modifications or alterations of major character.

Reg. 3-13-2.2: Anchor handling winches installed on or after [1 January 2026] shall be designed, constructed, installed and tested to the satisfaction of the Administration, based on the Guidelines developed by the Organization.

Reg. 3-13-2.3: Lifting appliances installed on or after [1 January 2026] shall be permanently marked and provided with documentary evidence for the safe working load (SWL).

Reg. 3-13-2.4: Lifting appliances installed before [1 January 2026] shall be tested and thoroughly examined, based on the Guidelines developed by the Organization and comply with regulation 3-13.2.3 no later than the date of the first renewal survey on or after [1 January 2026].

Reg. 3-13-2.5: Anchor handling winches installed before [1 January 2026] shall be tested and thoroughly examined, based on the Guidelines developed by the Organization no later than the date of the first renewal survey on or after [1 January 2026].

All lifting appliances and anchor handling winches, regardless of installation date, and all loose gear utilized with any lifting appliances and anchor handling winches, shall be operationally tested, thoroughly examined, inspected, operated and maintained, based on the Guidelines developed by the Organization.

Except as provided in regulation I/11(c), while all reasonable steps shall be taken to maintain

lifting appliances, anchor handling winches and loose gear to which this regulation applies in working order, malfunctions of that equipment shall not be assumed as making the ship unseaworthy or as a reason for delaying the ship 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.