Effective January 1, 2026, the IMO’s SOLAS Regulation II-1/3-13 introduces mandatory safety requirements for onboard lifting appliances.
The rules cover all lifting appliances on vessels with a safety construction certificate including all cranes greater than 1 tonne SWL, moveable decks, ramps lifted with cargo, as well as other lifting appliances.
It mandates that equipment must be designed, constructed and installed/certified according to the rules of the vessel’s class society or equivalent standards; non-certified appliances installed prior to January 1, 2026, may alternatively be covered by a factual statement confirming the equipment’s condition for use.
Equipment will need to undergo annual thorough examination and load testing every five years. Occasional load test and/or examination shall be performed when deemed necessary, such as to verify repairs. The equipment must also be subject to regular maintenance and inspection.
These requirements apply upon delivery of a newbuilding, upon installation of new lifting appliances or upon the first renewal survey post January 1, 2026.
For heavy lift and multipurpose ships, the core requirements for cargo handling cranes are not new, as these were already regulated under the ILO dock work conventions. However, the new IMO regulation closes verification gaps. For most vessels, compliance is achieved through a load-test of all lifting appliances during the upcoming renewal, followed by an IMO cargo gear book that will be maintained through annual surveys.
