Section 6 Lifting appliances and support arrangements

6.1.1 Where a vessel has been assigned a special features class notation associated with lifting appliances, the applicable lifting appliances are to be built in accordance with the requirements of LR’s Code for Lifting Appliances in a Marine Environment, July 2022.

6.1.2 Where the lifting appliance is considered to be an essential feature of a classed vessel, the special feature class notation LA or will be mandatory.

6.1.3 It is the responsibility of the designer to ensure that the ship is suitable for the intended lifting appliance operations. Particular attention is drawn to ships or units which have:

1. been assigned the class notation LA;
2. been assigned the class notation CG;
3. been assigned the class notation OC;
4. been assigned the class notation PLS; or
5. heavy lift cranes (or lifting appliances) installed (see Ch 4, 1.2 Lifting appliances and crane types 1.2.1.(k) of the Code for Lifting Appliances in a Marine Environment, July 2022.

See also Table 9.6.1 Special features class notations associated with lifting appliances.

6.1.4 Elsewhere, classification of lifting appliances is optional and may be assigned at the request of the Owner on compliance with the appropriate requirements.

6.1.5 Certain movable support structures and lifting appliances on special purpose vessels which are considered an essential feature of the vessel are to be included in the classification of the vessel.

6.1.6 Proposals to class lifting appliances on unclassed ships will be specially considered.

6.1.7 Lifting appliance pedestals and foundations that are welded to the supporting hull structures are classification items, and the scantlings and arrangements are to comply with LR's requirements whether or not LR is also requested to certify or class the lifting appliance and issue the Register of Ship’s Lifting Appliances and Cargo Handling Gear, see Pt 3, Ch 9, 6.1 General 6.1.7.

Figure 9.6.1 Classification items and applicability of LR’s requirements for lifting appliance pedestals and foundations

6.2.1 The scantlings of lifting appliance pedestals and foundations (such as masts, derrick posts and crane pedestals) are to comply with the requirements of LR's Code for Lifting Appliances in a Marine Environment, July 2022 or LR’s Code for Offshore Personnel Transfer Systems, July 2022, as applicable, see Figure 9.6.1 Classification items and applicability of LR’s requirements for lifting appliance pedestals and foundations.

6.3.1 The requirements of Pt 3, Ch 9, 6.3 Supporting hull structures for lifting appliance pedestals and foundations 6.3.2 and Pt 3, Ch 9, 6.3 Supporting hull structures for lifting appliance pedestals and foundations 6.3.3 are not applicable to Double Hull Oil Tankers or Bulk Carriers with a CSR notation, see Pt 1, Ch 2, 2.3 Class notations (hull).

6.3.2 Lifting appliance pedestals and foundations (such as masts, derrick posts and crane pedestals) are to be efficiently supported and, in general, are to be carried through the deck and satisfactorily integrated into a transverse hold or 'tween deck bulkhead. Alternatively, lifting appliance pedestals and foundations may be carried into a supporting structure of adequate strength, see Pt 3, Ch 9, 6.3 Supporting hull structures for lifting appliance pedestals and foundations 6.3.4. Proposals for other support arrangements will be specially considered.

6.3.3 Deck plating and underdeck structure are to be reinforced under lifting appliance pedestals and foundations and, where the deck is penetrated, the deck plating is to be suitably increased locally.

6.3.4 The factored forces and moments resulting from an installed lifting appliance are to be taken into consideration on the basis of LR’s Code for Lifting Appliances in a Marine Environment, July 2022 or LR’s Code for Offshore Personnel Transfer Systems, July 2022, as applicable, when assessing the support arrangements, including the deck plating and underdeck stiffening in way of the lifting appliance pedestal and foundation. The global hull girder stresses are to be taken into account where applicable, with due consideration given to the material grade, see also Pt 3, Ch 4 Longitudinal Strength.

6.3.5 Insert plates are to be incorporated in the deck plating in way of lifting appliance foundations where considered necessary to limit deflection and reduce stress concentrations. The thickness of the insert plates is to be as required by the designer’s calculations but in no case is to be taken as less than 1,5 times the thickness of the adjacent attached plating.

6.3.6 Where fitted, all inserts are to have well radiused corners and be suitably edge prepared prior to welding. The connection between the insert plate and the adjacent deck plating is to be full penetration. All other welding in way of the insert plate is generally to be double continuous and full penetration in way of critical locations. Tapers are to be not less than three to one.

6.4.1 Vessels or offshore units fitted with lifting appliances built in accordance with the classification requirements of LR's Code for Lifting Appliances in a Marine Environment, July 2022 or LR’s Code for Offshore Personnel Transfer Systems, July 2022, as applicable, will be eligible to be assigned Special Features class notations as listed in Table 9.6.1 Special features class notations associated with lifting appliances. This notation will be retained so long as the appliances are found upon examination at the prescribed surveys to be maintained in accordance with LR's requirements.

Table 9.6.1 Special features class notations associated with lifting appliances

Lifting appliance	Special features class notation	Remarks
Cargo gear, Derricks, derrick cranes or cranes on ships	CG	Optional notation. Indicates that the vessel's cargo gear is included in class.
Cranes on offshore units, offshore installations and offshore support vessels	OC	Optional notation. Indicates that the installation's, unit’s or vessel’s main deck cranes are included in class.
Pipe laying system	PLS	Optional notation. Indicates that the pipe laying system is included in class.
Personnel transfer system (Walk-to-Work)	W2W	Optional notation. Indicates that the personnel transfer system is included in class.
Lifts and ramps on vessels	CL PL CR	Optional notations. Indicate that the vessel's cargo lifts (CL), passenger lifts (PL) or cargo ramps (CR) are included in class.
Lifting appliances forming an essential feature of the vessel, e.g. cranes on crane barges or pontoons, lifting arrangements for diving on diving support vessels, etc.	LA	Mandatory notation. Indicates that the lifting appliance is included in class.
Lifting appliances forming an essential feature of the vessel where the appliance(s) has been classed by a recognised classification society other than LR and later transferred into class with LR.		Mandatory notation. Indicates that the lifting appliance is classed and that initial requirements for the appliance were that of another recognised classification society

6.5.1 The support structure for life-saving appliance davits and cranes is to be assessed on the basis of the maximum safe working load assigned and the ultimate strength of the materials used for construction.

6.5.3 The load cases given in Pt 3, Ch 9, 6.5 Support structure for life-saving appliances 6.5.2 are to be calculated based on the maximum safe working load of the davit and the requirements of the LSA Code - International Life-Saving Appliance Code – Resolution MSC.48(66) , Chapter VI - Launching and Embarkation Appliances, 6.1.1 General requirements. Each load case is to also consider the self-weight of the davit.

6.5.4 Both outboard and inboard load cases are to be considered together with intermediate positions as appropriate.

6.5.5 Support structure for appliances used for both life-saving and general shipboard operations are to be considered for both of these aspects.

σ_U and σ_o are defined in Pt 3, Ch 9, 6.5 Support structure for life-saving appliances 6.5.6.

6.6.1 This notation applies to ships designed, constructed and equipped to include personal transfer, e.g. by a motion compensated gangway or similar feature.

6.6.2 The transfer equipment is to be certified by LR against appropriate code relevant for the equipment, i.e. LR’s Code for Offshore Personnel Transfer Systems, July 2022.

6.6.3 Attention is drawn to the requirements of the Flag Administration concerning the transfer system.

6.6.4 Information and details of the local strengthening in way of the transfer system are to be submitted to LR for approval.

6.6.5 When considering loads, all expected directions of operation are to be taken into account. The foundation for the transfer system is to be designed in accordance with Ch 1, 8.3 Pedestals and foundation of LR’s Code for Offshore Personnel Transfer Systems, July 2022.

6.6.6 Where required by primary or additional bridge functions associated with offshore support the primary conning position in the navigation bridge is to permit adequate monitoring of personal transfer from the aft deck of the ship. Means of ensuring this visibility are to be provided.

6.6.7 The fields of vision at the fore stations for ship handling and work on the aft deck are to be sufficient to enable operators to supervise pernal transfer in all defined operational conditions, see LR Ship Control Centre Guidance 2014 for further details.

6.7.1 The support structure (including hinges) in way of the interface between a ramp and the ship is to be assessed in accordance with the appropriate criteria given in Ch 6, 2 Loading and design criteria of the Code for Lifting Appliances in a Marine Environment, July 2022.

6.7.2 The loads that the ramp supporting structure will be subjected to are to be submitted by the designer or Shipbuilder. These loads are to be calculated in accordance with Ch 6, 2 Loading and design criteria of the Code for Lifting Appliances in a Marine Environment, July 2022. Load cases calculated in accordance with alternative standards can be accepted subject to agreement with Lloyd’s Register.

6.7.3 Loads already existing in the supporting structure (other than those from the ramp) are to be superimposed if applicable.

6.7.4 Ramps forming part of the watertight integrity of the hull are also to be assessed in accordance with the applicable scantling requirements.