SOLAS II-1/3-13 lifting appliances (MSC.532(107))

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For decades, the only international rule on testing ship’s cranes was a labour convention about dockers. It was not applied everywhere and did not cover the provision crane, the engine-room crane or the hose-handling crane, which crews use every day.

Since 1 January 2026, SOLAS regulation II-1/3-13 closes that gap. It brings shipboard lifting appliances and anchor handling winches into the statutory survey regime, with the classification society acting for the flag and port State control able to check. Most existing ships must be compliant by their first renewal survey after that date, so many ships are going through it right now.

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In this lesson

Try it: SOLAS II-1/3-13: what happens when
In plain words
In detail
What the rules say
Flag and class notes
Key numbers
What inspectors find
Questions people ask
Quiz: 6 questions

Sources

1 IMO Resolution MSC.532(107), 2023 amendments to SOLAS (adopted 8 June 2023, in force 1 January 2026), regulation II-1/2.30 to 2.33 and new regulation II-1/3-13. https://wwwcdn.imo.org/localresources/en/KnowledgeCentre/IndexofIMOResolutions/MSCResolutions/MSC.532(107).pdf
2 IMO MSC.1/Circ.1663, Guidelines for lifting appliances (28 June 2023), Annex, sections 3.2 to 3.6 and 5 (copy hosted by ABS). https://ww2.eagle.org/content/dam/eagle/Images/rules-and-resources/regulatory-updates/solas-requirements/guidelines-hyperlinks/msc1-circ1663-guidelines-for-lifting-appliances%20%284%29.pdf
3 IMO MSC.1/Circ.1696, Unified interpretation of SOLAS regulation II-1/3-13.2.4 (28 August 2025), Annex paragraphs 1 to 6 (copy hosted by the Marshall Islands Registry). https://www.register-iri.com/wp-content/uploads/MSC.1-Circ.1696.pdf
4 Liberia Maritime Authority, Marine Notice SAF-020 Rev. 12/25, applicability section and paragraphs 2.1.2, 2.3 and 2.5 (summarising MSC.1/Circ.1662 and MSC.1/Circ.1663). https://www.liscr.com/marketing/liscr/media/liscr/online%20library/maritime/saf-020.pdf
5 Luxembourg Maritime Administration, Circular CAM 08/2025, Implementation of SOLAS regulation II-1/3-13 (4 November 2025). https://maritime.public.lu/dam-assets/circulaires/2025/20251104-08-implementation-of-solas-regulation-ii-13-13.pdf
6 Antigua and Barbuda Department of Marine Services, SOLAS Circular No. 2025-004 (17 December 2025), section 2 and background. https://abregistry.ag/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/SOLAS-Circular-2025-004-New-SOLAS-requirements-for-Lifting-Appliances-1-2.pdf
7 German Flag (BG Verkehr), ISM Circular 02/2025, Lifting appliances: new SOLAS requirements 1 January 2026. https://www.deutsche-flagge.de/de/redaktion/dokumente/ism-rundschreiben/circ02-2025-lifting-appliances-hebezeuge.pdf
8 Lloyd’s Register, Code for Lifting Appliances in a Marine Environment (edition 1 July 2026), scope summary page. https://www.lr.org/en/knowledge/lloyds-register-rules/code-for-lifting-appliances-in-a-marine-environment/

Free awareness training. Al Safwan Marine is not an approved training provider, so no certificate is given, and these courses are not a qualification. They don't replace STCW training, manufacturer training or the certification technicians need for this work. The manufacturer's manual and your flag's rules always come first.

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