Q. What is chain register?
Chain register is a register of periodical test and examination and certificates thereof. It deals with lifting gear such as derricks, cranes or hoists, winches and their accessories. Its technical, safety and administration issues are regulated by ILO and Dock Safety regulations.
Q. What tests and examinations are conducted under chain register?
It provides for initial and periodical test and examination for-
- winches, derricks and their accessory gear.
- cranes or hoists and their accessory gear.
It also contains test and examination of loose gears; and wire ropes (maintained in the back enclosure of register). There is provision of: heat treatment (if applicable) and examination of loose gears; and annual thorough examination of the loose gears.
Q. What is Form 1 in respect of Chain Register?
Form 1 is Chain Register, being the model form and Certificates as required by Article 25(2) of the ILO Convention concerning Occupational Safety and Health in Dock Work (No. 152), 1979.
Q. What are the other forms?
Other forms as follows:
Form No. 2: Certificate of test and thorough examination of lifting appliance.
Form No. 2(U): Certificate of test and thorough examination of derricks used in union purchase.
Form No. 3: Certificate of test and thorough examination of loose gear.
Form No. 4: Certificate of test and thorough examination of wire rope.
Q. What is shown on a rigging plan?
An approved rigging plan showing the arrangement of lifting appliances shall be provided. In the case of derricks and cranes the rigging plan should diagrammatically, show the positions of guys, preventers, (showing their lead) and the blocks. The resultant force on blocks, guys, wire ropes and booms must be indicated. It should be appropriate in guiding a mate to rig a lifting appliance correctly and completely from start to finish. The SWL and types of blocks, sheaves, shackles; size and type of guys; etc are clearly provided to rule out any possibility of a weak link or non compatible component in the system. Working range of crane, union purchase; limiting angle w.r.t. deck or vertical; etc are provided for all lifting appliance. If a derrick must be used as swinging derrick, in yoyo, in union purchase, with gun tackle or with luff tackle, the provision and details must be provided in the rigging plan.
Q. What is part 1 of the chain register?
All lifting appliances and every item of loose gear shall be thoroughly examined by a competent person at least once a year. Re-testing and thorough examination of all lifting appliances and every item of loose gear is to be carried out after any substantial alteration or renewal, or after repair to any stress bearing part. The lifting appliances, shall be thoroughly examined at least once in every five years. The retesting after alteration or repair of a certain component may be omitted provided the part which has been renewed or repaired is subjected by separate test, to the same stress as would be imposed on it if it had been tested in-situ during the testing of the lifting appliance. A major part of the system if renewed must be duly tested. Thus, if the boom was bent and the same was renewed or repaired, it must be duly tested. Appropriate details of every thorough examination and test shall be entered in part I of the Register.
Q. What records are maintained in part II?
Regular visual inspections of every item of loose gear shall be carried out by a Responsible Person before use. A record of these regular inspections is to be entered in part II of the Register, but entries need only be made when the inspection has indicated a defect in the item. Chief Officer or more commonly Chief Engineer may be the ‘Responsible Officer’ deputed by Master.
Q. What is the difference in “competent authority competent person and “responsible person”?The term “competent authority” means a minister, government department, or other authority empowered to issue regulations, orders or other instructions having the force of law. The term “competent person” means a person possessing the knowledge and experience required for the performance of thorough examinations and tests of lifting appliances and loose gear and who is acceptable to the competent authority. The term “responsible person” means a person appointed by the Master of the ship or the owner of the gear to be responsible for the performance of inspections and has sufficient knowledge and experience to undertake such inspections.
Q. What is thorough Examination?
Thorough Examination a means detailed visual examination by a competent person supplemented if necessary by other means such as hammer test, carried out as carefully as conditions permit, in order to arrive at a reliable conclusion of the safety of the parts concerned and examined. If necessary for the purpose, parts of the lifting machinery and gear shall be dismantled and checked for wear and tear, lubricated and assembled.
Q. What is annealing?
In metallurgy and material science, annealing is a heat treatment that alters the physical and sometimes chemical properties of a material to increase its ductility and reduce its hardness making it more workable. It involves heating a material above its re-crystallization temperature, maintaining a suitable temperature for an appropriate amount of time and then cooling. it slowly. Annealing also relieves any internal stresses which may be present in the metal.
Q. What is static and dynamic test in respect of lifting appliances?
Static Test using spring and hydraulic balances: A spring loaded balance showing the stress in tons is fixed to a strong point on the deck. The derrick runner is attached to the other end and the load is built up. The proof load is decided by a competent person. After the appropriate load is built up as indicated by the meter, the runner is slacked and the derrick is thoroughly examined to see that no part has been damaged or permanently deformed during the test. Balance must remain constant at the test load for a period of at least 5 min.
Dynamic test: It is carried out by using deadweight as per proof load decided by the competent person. A proof load is hung from the derrick and the derrick is swung across the complete slewing angle and the lifted to be the maximum and minimum topping angle. The derrick is then subjected to a thorough examination. During the test, the boom is swung as far as possible in both the directions. Adequate transverse stability must be ensured.
Q. What is the difference in ‘Competent Person’ and the ‘Inspector’?
Where, on one side the ‘Competent Person’ authorize by Competent Authority is techno-administrative officer who has technical capability, in respect of ship’s appliances, the ‘Inspector’ is safety cum administrative officer in respect of ship plus dock (covering other areas including transportation, hygiene, safety, etc)
Q. What is the field of operation of Dock Safety Inspector?
An Inspector may at any port for which he is appointed may:
(i) enter, with such assistance, (if any), as he thinks fit, any ship, dock, warehouse or other premises, where any dock work, is being carried on, or where he has reason to believe that any dock work is being carried on;
(ii) make examination of the ship’s or dock’s, lifting appliance, loose gear, lifting device, staging; transport equipment in warehouse or other premises, used or to be used, for any dock work.
A person having general management and control of the premises or the owner, Master, officer-in-charge or agents of the ship, as the case may be, shall provide such means as may be required by the Inspector for entry, inspection, examination, inquiry, otherwise for the exercise of his powers under Act and the regulations in relation to that ship or premises which shall also include the provision of launch or other means of transport.
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