The Marine and Port Authority of Singapore (Singapore MPA) has instructed their Recognised Organisations to undertake a concentrated survey campaign related to the primary load-bearing terminations on life-saving appliances falls on Singapore registered vessels regardless of age. The concentrated survey will be carried out as part of the next scheduled safety equipment survey.

Singapore MPA requirement

This is as follows:

Wire-rope grips for the falls of life-saving appliances, such as bulldog grips, are not acceptable for any primary load-bearing terminations. This includes falls for lifeboats, rescue boats and davit-launched life rafts, as well as hanging off pendants and recovery strops.

Lloyd’s Register requirements

LR has similar requirements contained in Lloyd’s Register’s Code for Lifting Appliances in a Marine Environment, July 2024 – Chapter 3 Launch and Recovery Appliances for Survival Craft and Rescue Boats – Section 1 General:

“1.9.9 Wire rope terminations are to be manufactured and the termination process is to be in accordance with the requirements of the manufacturer and/or a National or International Standard. Wire rope grips are not to be used as the primary load bearing termination.”

What should shipowners, ship managers and ship operators do now?

Where potentially non-compliant arrangements are found, shipowners should contact LR for further guidance and arrange for the replacement of wire-rope grips used on primary load-bearing terminations by swaged hard eye, approved resin or white metal sockets, spelter, wedge socket or other approved arrangements.