Nov. 3 2025 lifting appliance Home Class & statutory New SOLAS Requirements for Lifting Appliances – Entry into force on 1 January 2026 LinkedIn Twitter Facebook share Convention SOLAS CH II-1 Machinery, Electricity, Stability Flag ALL FLAGS Ship typeAll Sea going Ship types IntroductionThe International Maritime Organization (IMO) has adopted new mandatory safety requirements for onboard lifting appliances and their associated loose gear through SOLAS Regulation II-1/3-13. This regulation, effective from 1 January 2026, aims to prevent accidents, enhance safety, and establish uniform standards for the design, construction, installation, and maintenance of this equipment. These requirements are applicable to a wide range of lifting appliances, including cargo cranes, engine-room cranes, stores cranes, and hose handling cranes.Application for Lifting AppliancesThe new regulation applies lifting appliances on board ships certified under the SOLAS Convention, with some exceptions, such as those on Mobile Offshore Drilling Units (MODUs).Equipment Covered: The regulation covers various types of lifting appliances, including those used for cargo handling, stores, engine rooms, and personnel.SWL below 1,000 kg: Flag Administrations shall determine to what extent the new requirements do not apply to lifting appliances which have a safe working load below 1,000 kg. In the absence of such specification, it is our understanding that SOLAS Chapter II-1, Regulations 3-13. 2.1 and 3-13.2.4 apply to all Lifting Appliances, irrespective of their safe working load.Clarifying the Key Differentiation: New vs Existing Lifting AppliancesSOLAS Regulation II-1/3-13 distinguishes the following categories of lifting appliances.New Lifting Appliances:1. Any installation date of Lifting Appliances onboard ships for which the keel is laid or which are at a similar stage of construction on or after 1 January 2026 (see SOLAS Chapter II-1/2.33.1); or2. the contractual delivery date, or if no contractual delivery date has been specified, the actual delivery date of the Lifting Appliances on or after 1 January 2026 (SOLAS Chapter II-1/2.33.2);Existing Lifting Appliances:Lifting Appliances installed onboard all ships before 1 January 2026* The "contractual delivery date" is the primary criterion. However, in the absence of a contractual delivery date, the actual delivery date Compliance for New and Existing Lifting AppliancesNew Lifting Appliances:All new lifting appliances must be designed, constructed, and installed in accordance with the requirements of a recognized classification society. Prior to first use, they must undergo a load test and a thorough examination. Additionally, they must be permanently marked with their SWL and other essential information. Existing Lifting Appliances:Lifting appliances installed before 1 January 2026 should fulfil the following requirements no later than the date of the first renewal* survey on or after 1 January 2026 to comply with SOLAS Chapter II-1/3-13.2.4:1. be tested and thoroughly examined in accordance with MSC.1/Circ.1663;2. be permanently marked with the Safe Working Load (SWL); and3. be provided with documentary evidence of the SWL.*Note: In this context, the term “renewal survey” means (see Assembly resolution A 33/Res.1186):- for cargo ships: Safety Construction Renewal Survey (every five years)- for passenger ships: Passenger Ship Safety Survey (yearly)Two scenarios must be considered:1. Certified existing lifting app