4.1 Accommodation ladders and gangways, including
associate winch and fittings, should be properly maintained and inspected
at appropriate intervals as required by SOLAS
regulation III/20.7.2, in accordance with manufacturers’
instructions. Additional checks should be made each time the accommodation
ladder and gangway is rigged, looking out for signs of distortion,
cracks and corrosion. Close examination for possible corrosion should
be carried out, especially when an aluminium accommodation ladder/gangway
has fittings made of mild steel.
4.2 Bent stanchions should be replaced or repaired
and guard ropes should be inspected for wear and renewed where necessary.
4.3 Moving parts should be free to turn and should
be greased as appropriate.
4.4 The lifting equipment should be inspected,
tested and maintained paying careful attention to the condition of
the hoist wire. The wires used to support the means of embarkation
and disembarkation should be renewed when necessary, as required by SOLAS regulation II-1/3-9.
4.5 Arrangements should also be made to examine
the underside of gangways and accommodation ladders at regular intervals.
4.6 All inspections, maintenance work and repairs
of accommodation ladders and gangways should be recorded in order
to provide an accurate history for each appliance. The information
to be recorded appropriately on board should include the date of the
most recent inspection, the name of the person or body who carried
out that inspection, the due date for the next inspection and the
dates of renewal of wires used to support the embarkation and disembarkation
arrangement.