Get a plain-English read of 14

Turn the raw legal text into a practical explanation grounded in Marine Orders - Part 32: Cargo Handling Equipment, Issue 2 (Order No. 14 of 1997).

14 Safe working load

14.1 Drawings

The owner of a ship on which a crane or derrick is installed for use in loading or unloading the ship must keep on board the ship at all times a drawing or drawings in accordance with Appendixes 9 and 10 of all cranes and derricks so installed.

14.2 Determination and marking

An article of materials handling equipment must not be used in loading or unloading a ship unless a responsible person, having regard to the design, strength, material of construction and proposed use of the article, has:

  (a) determined the safe working load of the article; and
  (b) marked the safe working load and associated information on the article, in accordance with this Part.

14.3 SWL standards

In determining the safe working load of an article of materials handling equipment, the responsible person is to be guided by:

  (a) the relevant Australian Standard specified in Appendix 20 of this Part; or
  (b) an appropriate national standard established by a signatory member body of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) or, in the case of electrical equipment, an affiliate body of the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC).

14.4 Maximum load

An article of materials handling equipment must not be used to handle a load exceeding the safe working load of that equipment, for the purpose of loading or unloading a ship, except in accordance with Appendix 6.

Note: The mass of any loose gear, spreader, equalising beam and such like attachments is to be taken into account in calculating the load on derricks or cranes.