The London P&I Club has warned that failure to maintain a proper record of the inspection and testing of onboard lifting equipment can jeopardise owners’ position in the event of a claim.

The cub’s inspection programme has recently highlighted several instances of negative findings regarding the ship’s lifting equipment register. In the latest edition of its StopLoss Bulletin, the club says, “Anyone procuring lifting equipment should ensure that they are buying genuine and properly certificated equipment as there are counterfeit products on the market. All ships’ lifting gear should be fully recorded in a register, and a system of condition inspection and testing should be implemented in accordance with statutory requirements.

“If the equipment is not properly inspected and tested at regular intervals, there is a risk that it may present a hazard to the safety of the crew, and a lack of records could deprive owners of valuable evidence when dealing with claims. For example, a recent case involved serious damage to an ISO container and its contents during cargo operations when the container was dropped from height due to a parted wire.

Tags: London P&I Club