New SOLAS Requirements for Lifting Appliances – Entry into force on 1 January 2026

Introduction

The International Maritime Organization (IMO) has adopted new mandatory safety requirements for onboard lifting appliances and their associated loose gear through SOLAS Regulation II-1/3-13. This regulation, effective from 1 January 2026, aims to prevent accidents, enhance safety, and establish uniform standards for the design, construction, installation, and maintenance of this equipment. These requirements are applicable to a wide range of lifting appliances, including cargo cranes, engine-room cranes, stores cranes, and hose handling cranes.

Application for Lifting Appliances

The new regulation applies lifting appliances on board ships certified under the SOLAS Convention, with some exceptions, such as those on Mobile Offshore Drilling Units (MODUs).

• Equipment Covered: The regulation covers various types of lifting appliances, including those used for cargo handling, stores, engine rooms, and personnel.
• SWL below 1,000 kg: Flag Administrations shall determine to what extent the new requirements do not apply to lifting appliances which have a safe working load below 1,000 kg. In the absence of such specification, it is our understanding that SOLAS Chapter II-1, Regulations 3-13. 2.1 and 3-13.2.4 apply to all Lifting Appliances, irrespective of their safe working load.

Clarifying the Key Differentiation: New vs Existing Lifting Appliances

SOLAS Regulation II-1/3-13 distinguishes the following categories of lifting appliances.

New Lifting Appliances:

1. Any installation date of Lifting Appliances onboard ships for which the keel is laid or which are at a similar stage of construction on or after 1 January 2026 (see SOLAS Chapter II-1/2.33.1); or

2. the contractual delivery date, or if no contractual delivery date has been specified, the actual delivery date of the Lifting Appliances on or after 1 January 2026 (SOLAS Chapter II-1/2.33.2);

Existing Lifting Appliances:

Lifting Appliances installed onboard all ships before 1 January 2026

* The "contractual delivery date" is the primary criterion. However, in the absence of a contractual delivery date, the actual delivery date 

Compliance for New and Existing Lifting Appliances

New Lifting Appliances:
All new lifting appliances must be designed, constructed, and installed in accordance with the requirements of a recognized classification society. Prior to first use, they must undergo a load test and a thorough examination. Additionally, they must be permanently marked with their SWL and other essential information.

 Existing Lifting Appliances:

Lifting appliances installed before 1 January 2026 should fulfil the following requirements no later than the date of the first renewal* survey on or after 1 January 2026 to comply with SOLAS Chapter II-1/3-13.2.4:

1. be tested and thoroughly examined in accordance with MSC.1/Circ.1663;

2. be permanently marked with the Safe Working Load (SWL); and

3. be provided with documentary evidence of the SWL.

*Note: In this context, the term “renewal survey” means (see Assembly resolution A 33/Res.1186):

- for cargo ships: Safety Construction Renewal Survey (every five years)

- for passenger ships: Passenger Ship Safety Survey (yearly)

Two scenarios must be considered:

1. Certified existing lifting appliances installed before 1 January 2026

Existing lifting appliances should be regarded as compliant with SOLAS Chapter II-1/3-13.2.4 when valid certificates of test and thorough examination have been issued prior to 1 January 2026 under another international instrument* acceptable to the Administration.

* International instruments acceptable to the Administration are understood to include conventions of international level, such as the International Labour Organization (ILO) Convention No. 152. Certificates should be considered acceptable when issued by:

1. the Administration; or

2. a competent person acceptable to the Administration, including a Recognized Organization (RO).

2. Non-certified existing lifting appliances installed before 1 January 2026

For existing lifting appliances without valid certificates of test and thorough examination under another international instrument (see MSC.1/Circ.1663, paragraph 3.3.3) the company should nominate the SWL (to the satisfaction of the Administration):

1. based on documentary evidence (e.g. operation manual, drawing of lifting appliances or any document provided by manufacturers); or

2. by means of a declaration document issued by the company.

The reliable nomination of the SWL is crucial for the calculation of the minimum test load (according to MSC.1/Circ.1663, paragraph 3.2.1.5, Table 1) which forms the basis of a load test to be carried out in a safe manner.

In order to document compliance with SOLAS Chapter II-1, Regulation 3-13.2.4 for such lifting appliances after load test and thorough examination, it is recommended to use the factual statement in accordance with the UI SC 310 (MSC.1/Circ.1696).

Supporting IMO Guidelines (MSC.1/Circ.1663)

To ensure compliance, the IMO has approved supporting guidelines, MSC.1/Circ.1663, for the maintenance, operation, inspection, and testing of all lifting appliances and their associated loose gear. These guidelines outline a comprehensive regime of inspections, maintenance, and testing, which should be incorporated into the ship's planned maintenance system unless otherwise instructed by the flag.

See attached MSC.1/Circ.1663

Associated Loose Gear

Loose gear utilized with lifting appliances should be designed and manufactured in accordance with requirements acceptable to the Administration or a RO (paragraph 4.1 of MSC.1/Circ.1663).

All loose gear in use with lifting appliances (to which SOLAS Chapter II-1, Regulation 3-13 applies) should be proof tested (with documentary evidence) and be retested after repairs, modifications or alterations of a major character to the satisfaction of the Administration. Minimum test loads should be to the satisfaction of the Administration, based on paragraph 4.2.1, Table 2 of MSC.1/Circ.1663 (paragraph 4.2.1 of MSC.1/Circ.1663).

Survey Window

To enhance flexibility in conducting thorough examinations and load tests of lifting appliances and associated loose gears and to facilitate alignment with other ship surveys, it is recommended that thorough examinations and load tests may be held during the respective survey windows under SOLAS regulation I/7 or SOLAS regulation I/10, as appropriate, unless otherwise instructed by the ship’s Administration.

Nevertheless, for lifting appliances subjected to ILO Convention No. 152 no survey windows are foreseen by the convention. In this context each flag administration may have different instructions regarding the application of survey windows.

Register of lifting appliances & cargo handling gear and Certificates

The new SOLAS regulation mandates that a Register of Ship's Lifting Appliances and Cargo Handling Gear be maintained on board. The "Certificate of Test and Thorough Examination of Lifting Appliances" must be in the format provided in Appendix 1 of MSC.1/Circ.1663. This standardized format ensures all necessary details are recorded for inspection.

Call to Action for Shipowners

Shipowners must prepare to comply with the new SOLAS Regulation II-1/3-13 in due course. For existing Lifting appliances, action should focus on planning required load tests and examinations to align with upcoming SOLAS renewal surveys and ensuring the full integration of IMO Circular MSC.1/Circ.1663 requirements into the ship's SMS/PMS in due course.