Regulation 3-13
Lifting appliances and anchor handling winches
of Merchant Shipping (Safety Convention) Regulations
( a ) Application (i) 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. (ii) Notwithstanding the above, this Regulation does not apply to: (A) lifting appliances on ships certified as MODUs; 1 1 Ships certified as MODUs are those subject to the MODU Code and which carry a MODU Code Certificate on board issued by the Director or a recognized organization. The carriage of this certificate includes authorized electronic versions available on board. (B) 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 Director; (C) integrated mechanical equipment for opening and closing hold hatch covers; and (D) life-saving launching appliances complying with the International Life-Saving Appliance (LSA) Code. (iii) The Director shall determine to what extent the provisions of paragraphs ( b )(i) and ( b )(iv) do not apply to lifting appliances which have a safe working load below 1,000 kg. ( b ) Design, construction and installation (i) Lifting appliances installed on or after 1 January 2026 shall be —
designed, constructed and installed in accordance with the requirements of a classification society which is recognized by the Director in accordance with the provisions of Regulation 1 of Chapter XI-1 or standards acceptable to the Director which provide an equivalent level of safety; and (B) 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. (ii) Anchor handling winches installed on or after 1 January 2026 shall be designed, constructed, installed and tested to the satisfaction of the Director, based on the Guidelines developed by the Organization. 2 2 Refer to the Guidelines for anchor handling winches (MSC.1/Circ.1662). (iii) Lifting appliances installed on or after 1 January 2026 shall be permanently marked and provided with documentary evidence for the safe working load (SWL). (iv) Lifting appliances installed before 1 January 2026 shall be tested and thoroughly examined, based on the Guidelines developed by the Organization 3 and comply with paragraph ( b )(iii) no later than the date of the first renewal survey on or after 1 January 2026. 3 Refer to the Guidelines for lifting appliances (MSC.1/Circ.1663). (v) Anchor handling winches installed before 1 January 2026 shall be tested and thoroughly examined, based on the Guidelines developed by the Organization 2 no later than the date of the first renewal survey on or after 1 January 2026. ( c ) Maintenance, operation, inspection and testing 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. 2, 3 ( d ) Inoperative lifting appliances and anchor handling winches Except as provided in Regulation 11( c ) of Chapter I, 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. 2, 3 [S 738/2025 wef 01/01/2026]