Marine Notice 18/2015

Failure of Lifting Wire Ropes

Of great concern is the sudden failure of
Purpose a crane wire rope under load, resulting in
Ship operators, masters and crew are uncontrolled dropping of the load.
reminded they have a responsibility to Analysis of incidents related to wire rope
ensure the safe operation of lifting failure has identified a number of factors
appliances and associated equipment. including:

To meet these responsibilities, ship • the age of the wire rope;

operators, masters and crew are urged to • inadequate care and maintenance;
review and familiarise themselves with all
the requirements of Marine Order 32. In • inadequate inspections to verify the
order to ensure compliance with the condition of wires before use; and
Marine Order and to ensure safe • failure to consider the usage history.
operations, it is necessary to regularly
inspect the condition of lifting appliances Marine Order 32
and associated equipment, including Marine Order 32 (Cargo handling
crane wire ropes. equipment) 2011 (MO32), details Australian
Note: Marine Order 32 (Cargo requirements for the maintenance,
handling equipment) 2011 defines inspection and testing of cargo handling
"lifting appliance" as "a stationary or equipment, including crane wire ropes.
mobile cargo-handling appliance used MO32 gives effect to parts of the following
on board a vessel for suspending, instruments of the International Labour
raising or lowering or moving loads Organization (ILO) that apply to machinery,
from one position to another while appliances and equipment that belong to a
suspended or supported, including a vessel and are used for loading or
crane, a derrick crane, a derrick, a unloading the vessel:
cargo lift and a mechanical ramp". • Convention No. 27, Marking of Weight
Concerns with crane wire ropes (Packages Transported by Vessels),
1929;
AMSA has received a number of incident
• Convention No. 152, Occupational
reports involving crane wire ropes. These
Safety and Health (Dock Work), 1979;
incidents involved the failure of lifting wire
ropes, improper securing of wire ropes • Recommendation No.160,
and operator error. Such incidents Occupational Safety and Health (Dock
present risks of serious injury, fatality Work), 1979; and
and/or damage to the vessel.
• ILO Code of Practice Safety and
Health in Ports (the ILO Code), 2005.

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MO32 Schedule 4 provision 8.2 outlines Note: The ILO Code of Practice
the requirements for the inspection of Safety and Health in Ports and
wire ropes while Schedule 5 provision 2 referenced ISO standards contain
outlines conditions that a wire rope used guidance on the upkeep of wire and
in loading or unloading must comply with. fibre ropes, particularly ropes used
with lifting and other cargo-handling
Ship operators, masters and officers are equipment.
urged to familiarise themselves with the
requirements of MO32 and the associated Masters are reminded that a wire rope
ILO instruments. should not be accepted for use on board
unless it is accompanied by a certificate
Guidance on the use, inspection stating that it has been manufactured to
and maintenance of wire ropes a recognised national or international
The ILO Code, MO32 and referenced standard and which gives details of its
standards outline precautions in relation to construction, safe working load and
the use of wire ropes. These precautions minimum breaking strain.
include: Wire ropes should be regularly inspected
a) All wire ropes should be of sound for loose or broken strands or internal
material, of good construction and damage. It is recommended that special
adequate strength for the service attention be paid to the condition of eye
required and maintained in good splices.
condition. In considering the care of wire ropes the
b) Before use, all wire ropes should be manufacturer’s specified maintenance
inspected and confirmed suitable for the and care requirements should be
intended working load and equipment on complied with. Wire ropes used in lifting
which they are to be used. appliances should be treated at regular
intervals with suitable lubricant, which is
c) All wire ropes used for load-bearing free from acid or alkali and is of a type
purposes should be periodically recommended by the manufacturer.
inspected.
When breaking a wire rope out of storage
d) When any wire rope has been and before it is rigged as part of a lifting
lengthened, altered or repaired, it appliance, it should be thoroughly
should be examined and tested before inspected for corrosion, broken strands or
it is used again. other damage that may render it unsafe.
The rope certification should also be
e) When not in use, wire ropes should be
examined to ensure it has not exceeded
stowed under cover in clean, dry and
any shelf-life, if one has been specified by
well ventilated places and should not be
the manufacturer.
exposed to excessive heat, humidity or
harmful chemicals. Any wire ropes on lifting appliances,
intended to be used for cargo operations
f) Care should be taken to avoid
in an Australian port that:
damaging or weakening a wire rope
through: • have been in service in excess of 2.5
• excessive stress and strain; years, and/or
• rubbing or chafing against sharp • appear in poor condition, and/or
objects; • have been subject to particularly harsh
• passing it through too small a operating conditions for an extended
sheave or block; or period,
• the formation of a kink in any rope should be inspected to ensure the lifting
under strain. appliance is fit for use. It is recommended
this be done by a competent person.
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Actions in the event of a wire In making such assessment, the Master
failure is advised that such inspections should
be made by the ship’s Responsible
Notification Person, or through engagement of a
If, in connection with the loading or competent person as defined in section 6
unloading of a vessel covered by MO32, of MO32.
a component of ‘material handling Where a failure occurs and an AMSA
equipment’ (which includes lifting Inspector is satisfied that the material
appliances), fails in operation, whether or handling equipment is defective, the
not any person is injured because of the inspector may prohibit the use of the
failure, the Master, on advice from the material handling equipment for loading
person in charge, must notify AMSA, as or unloading a vessel.
required by MO32. Failure to provide
notice in accordance with MO32 may
result in a fine. Following notification, an
AMSA Surveyor may attend the vessel.
Further action
The Master is advised to cease cargo Gary Prosser
operations until such time as the safety of Deputy Chief Executive Officer
loading or unloading operations can be October 2015
confirmed. Issues that may be considered
in making such an assessment are: Australian Maritime Safety Authority
GPO Box 2181
• Safe Working Load or SWL of cargo CANBERRA ACT 2601
handling gear and weight of load
intended to be lifted; File No. 2015/3854
• whether lifting appliances are being
used in accordance with design
specifications and/or manufacturer’s
recommendations;
• time in service of all wire ropes for
each cargo lifting appliance that is
intended to be used;
• records of certification and test for
wire ropes and lifting appliance,
including testing of limits and safety
devices;
• whether the failure caused a shock
loading to be exerted on the lifting
appliance or otherwise caused
damage to the lifting appliance or
vessel; and
• the condition of wire ropes on other
cranes that are intended to be used.

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