Heavy Lift Cargo and Project Cargo
Heavy lift and project cargo require reliable data and an engineering package consistent with the CSM and ship limits; Annex 13 authorises neither autonomous crew calculations nor a universal independent sea-fastening survey.
Operational Explanation
Annex 13 provides design assumptions and an assessment method for semi-standardised and non-standardised cargo. The arrangement must nevertheless be covered by the approved CSM or engineering/case-specific analysis prepared by competent personnel and accepted or approved as required. Deck/tank-top limits, stability, grillage, support and sea fastening remain part of the engineering package.
Regulatory Reference
SOLAS VI/5.6; MSC.1/Circ.1623 — CSS Annex 13. The approved CSM and engineering package govern securing. Operational procedures for weather-dependent securing must be documented in the approved CSM or SMS under Annex 13 §7.1.6, consistently with applicable limits. A forecast alone does not authorize arbitrary design-load reductions.
IMO — SOLAS II-1/3-13, effective 1 January 2026. Separately verify applicable lifting-appliance requirements: design, operation, inspections, testing and maintenance. A lifting plan does not replace sea-fastening design, or vice versa.
Scope of Application
Heavy lift, out-of-gauge and project cargo require assessment proportionate to mass, geometry, supports, CoG, structure and voyage. Approval/acceptance and independent survey depend on Administration, class, CSM, Company, contract, charterer or insurer; they are not identical universal IMO duties for every cargo.
Procedure / How to Complete It
- Obtain reliable mass, dimensions, verified CoG, support and lifting points from the shipper.
- Check deck/tank-top limits, stability, structural loads and compatibility with the approved CSM.
- Have competent personnel prepare securing/sea-fastening analysis under Annex 13 and other applicable standards.
- Obtain acceptance/approval and survey where required by documents and competent parties.
- On board verify installation against drawings and calculations; stop on discrepancy.
Practical Example
For a turbine on deck, the engineering package checks supports, grillage, deck loads, stability, design accelerations and sea fastening. Weather or speed limits apply only if formally included. Crew verify installation against accepted drawings.
What Typically Goes Wrong
Dividing weight by the whole deck area hides concentrated support reactions. Competent engineering must check load paths, grillage and supporting structure. Lifting points are not automatically suitable as securing points: directions and capacities must be checked for each use.
Common Mistakes Mistake Library
| Mistake | Consequence | How to Avoid It |
|---|---|---|
| Improvised onboard Annex 13 calculation | Structural assessment and acceptance process are missing | Use competent engineering and approved/accepted package |
| Forecast freely reduces design loads | Arrangement falls outside approved assumptions | Use weather-dependent limits only where formally prescribed |
| Independent survey treated as universal IMO duty | Requirement unsupported by the source | Check contract, insurer, Company, class and Administration |
What the PSCO Checks
Operational Tips
- Do not use estimated data where mass or CoG requires verification.
- Do not reduce design loads from forecast alone.
- Check the sea-fastening survey requirement in contract and applicable procedures.
Preparation checklist
- Reliable cargo data and verified CoG
- Deck/tank-top, stability and structural loads checked
- Engineering analysis prepared by competent personnel
- Acceptance/approval obtained where required
- Weather-dependent limitations formally documented
- Need for independent survey assessed; carried out when required or selected based on risk
- Installation matches drawings
FAQ
Related Topics
Last substantive revision of this page: 15 September 2026 · page fingerprint dedde402f247