| Flag Administration |
Application |
Additional requirement |
| Antigua and Barbuda |
Applicable |
Lifting appliances with SWL < 1,000 kg installed before 1 January 2026 may continue in service, provided they are properly maintained and documented through the vessel’s Planned Maintenance System (PMS) within the Safety Management System (SMS). |
| Bahamas |
NOT applicable
*According to the Bahama’s domestic rules, periodical load test is required for lifting appliances with SWL less than 1,000kg not exceed 5 years.
|
- “Mobile appliances” are also applied
The “Mobile appliances” means ship’s lift trucks and similar vehicles, and does not include portable davits or chain blocks etc.
- Thorough examination is to be carried out not exceeding 12 months.
- Bahamas Regulation applies to Lifting appliances with SWL less than 1,000kg.
- Manufacturer’s test certificate for loose gear may be used until the certificate expires, or 5 years from the date of testing on the certificate, whichever is sooner, subject to annual examination. Loose gear with expired test certificate shall be replaced or load tested.
Refer to the Marine Notice 108 |
| Barbados |
NOT applicable |
Lifting appliances shall be permanently marked and provided with documentary evidence for the SWL. |
| Belize |
NOT applicable |
Nil |
| Cayman Islands |
NOT applicable |
Shipowner and master should:
- Ensure that all lifting equipment fitted on board is appropriate for its intended purpose and is safe to use.
- Ensure a valid certificate of testing and thorough examination by a competent person is in force for every item of lifting equipment, accessory for lifting and loose gear. All items should be tested, and then thoroughly examined and certificated for use either:
1) after manufacture or installation; or
2) after any repair or modification that is likely to alter the safe working load (SWL) or affect the strength or stability of the equipment.
- A certificate for a ship’s lifting equipment is valid for no more than five years; with annual thorough examinations and a five-year proof load test.
|
| Cyprus |
NOT applicable |
- Lifting appliances with a SWL 1,000 kg, installed on or after 1 January 2026, shall be load tested and thoroughly examined by the manufacturer prior to installation onboard. A certificate of test shall be provided to the ship.
- For all lifting appliances with a SWL below 1,000 kg, the ISM Company shall assess their intended use and associated risks. Inspection and maintenance procedures shall be incorporated into the shipboard Safety Management System (SMS), taking into account the guidance provided in MSC.1/Circ. 1663.
- The Shipping Deputy Ministry (SDM) encourages ISM Companies to voluntarily apply, as far as practicable, the provisions of SOLAS Regulation II-1/3-13.2.1 and 2.4 when developing inspection and maintenance procedures for lifting appliances with a SWL below 1,000 kg.
Refer to the Circular No. 27/2025
|
| Georgia |
Applicable |
Nil |
| Germany |
See “Additional requirement” on the right |
For lifting appliances with SWL < 1,000 kg, the shipowner may deviate and apply the national regime according to the Industrial Safety Ordinance (Betriebssicherheitsverordnung, BetrSichV) which includes following minimum requirements:
- regular inspection by a qualified person at intervals not exceeding 12 months,
- in principle, a qualified person may be a member of the crew if their training, experience and recent professional activity, as well as their knowledge of the company's procedures, are sufficient for this purpose,
- type, scope and interval of inspections as well as the qualification requirements for the qualified person are based on the company's risk assessment, taking due account of the manufacturer's instruction and applicable standards and guidelines,
- lifting appliances shall be permanently marked with the safe working load (SWL).
|
| Gibraltar |
Applicable |
Refer to the Shipping Information Notice (SIN) 128
|
| Hong Kong |
NOT applicable |
Nil |
| Isle of Man |
NOT applicable |
1989 Merchant Shipping (Hatches, Hold Access and Lifting Plant) Regulations is to be complied. |
| Japan |
NOT applicable |
Ships engaged in international navigation
[Scope]
- Lifting appliances installed on ships of 300 gross tons or more (limited to those with SWL of 1 ton and more)
- Lifting appliances installed on passenger ships of less than 300 gross tons (limited to those with SWL of 1 ton and more)
[Effective Date]
- Ships which keel is laid on or after 1 January 2026
- For existing ships, applies from the first Periodical Survey and Intermediate Survey on or after 1 January 2026.
Ships not engaged in international voyages
[Scope]
- Lifting appliances installed on ships of 300 gross tons or more (limited to those with SWL of 1 ton or more)
[Effective Date]
- Ships which keel is laid on or after 1 January 2026
- For existing ships, applies from the first Periodical Survey and Intermediate Survey on or after 1 January 2028.
*The terms “Periodical Survey” and “Intermediate Survey” above refer to those defined in domestic rules.
Refer to domestic rules for details and exceptions.
|
| Kiribati |
NOT applicable |
Alternate conditions imposed:
1) Type Approved Certificate – issued by Classification Society, other Administration or Authorized Authority.
2) Shipboard maintenance records shall be available according to manufacturer’s instructions.
|
| Liberia |
NOT applicable |
- With regard to lifting appliances with a safe working load below 1,000 kg installed on or after 1 January 2026, these shall be load tested and thoroughly examined by the manufacturer prior installation onboard and provided with a certificate of test.
- For all lifting appliances with a safe working load below 1,000 kg, shipowners and operators should assess their usage and associated risks and incorporate procedures for inspection and maintenance into the shipboard Safety Management System (SMS).
Refer to the Marine Notice: SAF-020
|
| Libya |
NOT applicable |
Nil |
| Luxembourg |
NOT applicable |
Nil |
| Malta |
NOT applicable |
Nil |
| Marshall Islands |
NOT applicable |
Nil |
| Panama |
NOT applicable |
SOLAS II-1/3-13.2.1 and 2.4 apply on a voluntary basis to lifting appliances with SWL below 1,000kg. |
| Portugal |
NOT applicable |
Nil |
| Saudi Arabia |
NOT applicable |
- The equipment must be permanently marked with its SWL.
- Documentary evidence of the SWL must be maintained onboard.
- Shipowners and operators must conduct a risk assessment for the usage of such equipment and incorporate specific procedures for inspection, maintenance, and crew training into the ship’s Safety Management System (SMS).
|
| Singapore |
NOT applicable |
The ISM Company is required to review their SMS and develop an appropriate planned maintenance system (PMS) accordingly to maintain all lifting appliances, and all associated loose gears (including those below 1000 kg) by 1 January 2026, taking into account the Guidelines MSC.1/Circ. 1663 |
| St. Kitts and Nevis |
Applicable |
Nil |
| St. Vincent & Grenadines |
NOT applicable |
Refer to the notice issued by the Administration. |
| Switzerland |
Applicable |
Nil |
| Türkiye |
NOT applicable |
In all lifting appliances, which have been installed onto the ships before or after January 1st, 2026 and whose SWL is under 1.000 kg, the ship owners and operators will include inspection, maintenance and training procedures into the Safety Management System (SMS) of the ship by making utilization risk assessments of these appliances and they will be subjected to a detailed inspection, plus a load test and a test certificate will be issued by the manufacturer or authorized service provider.
|
| Tuvalu |
NOT applicable |
Same provided with Type-Approved Certification and in compliance with the provisions of the Classification Society or recognized International or National Standards. |
| UK |
Applicable |
Nil |
| Vanuatu |
NOT applicable |
- Lifting appliances shall be permanently marked and supported with documentary evidence of their SWL.
- Lifting Appliance - Any onboard load-handling system used for cargo operations, and used as engine, store, hose, tender, and personnel handling cranes.
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