EXPLANATORY NOTES

Marine Orders, Part 32

(Cargo Handling Equipment)

Issue 2

Order No 14 of 1997

 

Authority

 1.     Section 425(1) of the Navigation Act 1912 (the Act) empowers the Governor-General to make regulations necessary or convenient for carrying out or giving effect to the Act.

 2.     Section 425 (1AA) of the Act allows the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) to make orders with respect to matters in Part IV and VB of the Act in relation to which provision may be made by regulations.

 3.     Marine Orders, Part 32, Issue 2, was made pursuant to Section 425(1AA).

 

Purpose

 

 4.        Part 32 prescribes matters in relation to the loading and unloading of cargo and the safe transfer of persons, from ships, off-shore industry vessels and off-shore industry mobile units, for the purposes of Provisions 425(1), 283D(1)(b), 283E(1)(b) and 283E(1)(c)(xiii) of the Navigation Act.

 

 5.        Marine Orders Part 32, Issue 2, gives effect to the International Labour Organization (ILO) conventions, No 152 Occupational Safety and Health (Dock Work) 1979 and No 27, Marking of Weight (Packages Transported by Vessels) 1929. It also gives effect to the ILO Code of Practice, Safety and Health in Dock Work, and ILO Recommendation 160, Occupational Safety and Health (Dock Work) 1979.

 

 6.        This Issue of Marine Orders Part 32 repeals Issue 1 and has been re-formatted to accord with current Marine Orders publication style and has been amended to remove out of date references.

 

Consultation

 

 7.        Businesses affected by the changes have been fully consulted through appropriate industry associations.

 

Overview

 

 8.        Marine Orders Part 32 has been reviewed and revised as part of the ongoing process of updating AMSA legislation. A major change is the adoption of a five year interval for testing cranes and derricks, in line with current international practice.

 

 

Contents

 

 9.        Provision 1 provides definitions and interpretations for proper understanding of the Order.

 

10.       Provision 2 indicates the purposes for which this Order has been made.

 

11.       Provision 3 specifies the ships and the off shore industry mobile units to which this part applies.

 

12.       Provision 4 provides for the exemption of a ship or class of ships from compliance with this Part and provides for the use of an equivalent fitting, material, appliance or apparatus on board ship.

 

13.       Provision 5 is a transitional provision which enables the recognition of a test or examination conducted in accordance with Issue 1 as conducted in accordance with this Issue, and allows the continuance of a certificate granted under Issue 1 of this Part.

 

14.       Provision 6 provides for the review of specified decisions of officials under this Part by the Administrative Appeals Tribunal and for a person affected by a decision to obtain a statement of reasons.

 

15.       Provision 7 prohibits the making of a false certificate or entry in a register or other false representation, the marking of cargo with false gross mass or the marking of materials handling equipment with a false safe working load.

 

16.       Provision 8 specifies, for the purposes of the Navigation (Orders) Regulations, the provisions of the Part that are penal provisions.

 

17.       Provision 9 provides for the appointment of a person in charge of the loading or unloading of a ship and specifies the responsibilities of the person in charge in relation to safe handling of cargo and safety of personnel.

 

18.       Provision 10 specifies the general requirements for loading or unloading. It also provides for the wearing of protective clothing, and the conditions for loading or unloading from a manned barge or lighter, the removal of equipment during loading or unloading and the reporting of risks.

 

19.       Provision 11 provides for safe means for personnel to board or leave a ship during loading or unloading and provides requirements to prevent entry to a working atmosphere that is not safe and the marking of obstructions to the free passage of vehicular traffic.

 

20.       Provision 12 provides for cargo to be marked with its gross mass prior to loading.

 

21.       Provision 13 provides for a surveyor to inspect material handling equipment and the relevant register; to issue written defect notices and directions regarding unsafe arrangements for loading or unloading, and to require the weighing of cargo.

 

22.       Provision 14 specifies requirements in respect to drawings of cranes or derricks, determination of safe working loads and prohibits the use of materials handling equipment to handle loads which exceed the safe working load.

 

23.       Provision 15 provides for the testing, inspection and certification of materials handling equipment.

 

24.       Provision 16 provides for the keeping of a register of materials handling equipment, and for test and other relevant certificates to be kept in or with the register of materials handling equipment.  This Provision also prescribes the form to be used for certificates, and provides for the acceptance of non-Australian certificates and copies of certificates.

 

25.       Provision 17 provides for the correct use of and maintenance of materials handling equipment, protection of persons, safe arrangements for repairs, certification of repaired materials and appropriate recording of repairs.

 

26.       Appendix 1 prescribes the requirements for fencing and access in relation to the upper deck of a ship, open hatchways and machinery.

 

27.       Appendix 2 specifies lighting requirements for cargo and access spaces.

 

28.       Appendix 3 prohibits loading or unloading cargo into a cargo space where the atmosphere may be contaminated, unless appropriate precautions are taken.

 

29.       Appendix 4 prescribes the construction requirements and operational procedures for a personnel cradle and associated crane.

 

30.       Appendix 5 prescribes criteria and procedures for the load testing of cranes, derricks, winches, cargo lifts, mechanical ramps, sheave blocks and other lifting equipment, receptacles and intermediate bulk containers.

 

31.       Appendix 6 provides for the use of materials handling equipment in relation to its safe working load and prescribes other safety requirements for the use of this equipment.

 

32.       Appendix 7 specifies the requirements for hatchways, stages or platforms, provisions for hatchman, accesses, openings, ladders, coamings and passage ways.

 

33.       Appendix 8 specifies the requirements for motors operating in cargo spaces including associated fire precautions and fuelling procedures.

 

34.       Appendix 9 specifies general requirements for derricks, including detailed drawings, and marking of derricks.

 

35.       Appendix 10 specifies general requirements for cranes, including track-mounted cranes, detailed drawings, the fitting of effective motion-limiting devices and marking of cranes.

 

36.       Appendix 11 specifies the requirements for crane and winch controls including braking systems.

 

37.       Appendix 12 specifies the requirements for a crane operator’s cabin, including access requirements to the operating position.

 

38.       Appendix 13 prescribes for the use of certain types of mechanical stowing appliances in relation to dangerous goods and general requirements for mechanical stowing appliances that are ship equipment.

 

39.       Appendix 14 provides for safety precautions in relation to the use of specialised handling equipment.

 

40.       Appendix 15 specifies conditions for using chains, wire ropes, slings, nets and hooks, lifting devices and intermediate bulk containers.  It also requires that the safe working load be marked on each article of cargo gear and for additional markings on intermediate bulk containers and returnable cargo units. 

 

41.       Appendix 16 provides for containers or shipborne barges, requirements for roll-on/roll-off operations, audible and visible signals fitted to a cargo lift or mechanical hoist and specifications for the construction, marking and examination of shipborne barges.

 

42.       Appendix 17 specifies the construction requirements and inclination angles for types of ladders used to access a crane or a cargo space.

 

43.       Appendix 18 specifies visibility requirements for loading or unloading by means of a crane or derrick, and hand signals to be used by the hatchman in directing the drivers of cranes or derricks.

 

44.       Appendix 19 provides for the marking of cargo and mechanical stowing appliances with their gross mass. It also provides for the deeming of the gross mass of unmarked transport equipment and unitised or pre-slung cargo.

 

45.       Appendix 20 lists the Australian standards which may be used as a guide in determining safe working loads, and lists other standards called up in this Part.

 

46.       Appendix 21 specifies the maximum actuating forces for controls of material handling equipment.

 

47.       Appendix 22 provides the specifications for approved splices in wire rope.

 

48.       Appendix 23 provides forms for certificates of tests and examination of derricks, cranes and cargo lifts, cargo gear, personnel cradles, cargo trays, crates, tubs and other loading and unloading receptacles and wire rope. It also provides a report form for breakage or failure of cargo gear, or injury to persons on or about a ship.

 

 

 

 

The Australian Maritime Safety Authority

December 1997