SHIPPING NOTICE 04/2021 (Rev 2)
STRENGTH AND LOAD TESTING OF
MAN RIDING TENDER LIFTING POINTS
To: OWNERS, MANAGERS, MASTERS, RECOGNIZED ORGANISATIONS, CERTIFYING
AUTHORITIES and BUILDERS OF MAN RIDING TENDERS
1. BACKGROUND & IMPLEMENTATION
1.1 This Shipping Notice has been published to provide those individuals involved in the Design, Construction,
Survey, Certification and Operation of tenders carried onboard yachts registered in the Cayman Islands and
certificated in accordance with the Red Ensign Group (REG) Yacht Code with clarification regarding the
strength requirements for lifting points and their supporting structure.
1.2 This Shipping Notice is published on the basis that whilst regulatory requirements for tenders are included in
Common Annex K, Section K1 and survey and certification requirements for Man Riding Cranes are included
in Common Annex O, Section O4 of the REG Yacht Code, it has been noted that no prescriptive
requirements concerning the strength of tender lifting points have previously been published.
1.3 This Shipping Notice applies to tenders, the contract for the construction of which was signed on or after 01
January 2022, however earlier compliance on a voluntary basis is strongly encouraged.
2. MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS FOR THE BUILDERS OF MAN RIDING TENDERS
2.1 The requirements of the Cayman Islands Shipping Registry are based on existing Statutory Regulations for
Survival Craft and Rescue Boats as referenced in the IMOs Life Saving Appliances (LSA) Code and are as
follows:
(a) Structural members, pad eyes, links, fastenings and all other fittings used in connection with tender
lifting shall be designed with a Factor of Safety (FOS) on the basis of the maximum working load
assigned and the ultimate strength of the materials used in the construction. A minimum FOS of 4.5
shall be applied to all structural members. A minimum FOS of 6 shall be applied to any lifting points
(including their fastenings), strops and / or similar components. Any lifting components made from
synthetic fibre rope (i.e. strops) shall have a minimum FOS of 7.5.
(b) The builders of man riding tenders are required to ensure that any lifting points and their supporting
structure are designed and constructed in accordance with the above. Compliance shall be
demonstrated by producing a set of calculations for the lifting structure, a copy of which shall be
appended to the Builders Certificate. The provision and accuracy of such calculations remain the
responsibility of the builder and do not need to be approved by either the Cayman Islands Shipping
Registry, Recognised Organisation or MCA Certifying Authority.
Page 1 of 4
Rev 02: 15 August 2021
Shipping Notice 04/2021
Man riding tender lifting points (Continued)
(c) Static load testing of every man riding tender shall be conducted by the builder in the presence of a
Surveyor to a Recognized Organisation*(RO) or a Certifying Authority (CA) authorised by the
Cayman Islands Shipping Registry (CISR)** as follows:
The tender should be loaded with a properly distributed load of four times the weight of the full
complement of persons for which man riding is to be approved and suspended for five minutes from
its strops or hooks. The weight should be distributed in proportion to the loading of the tender in its
launch and recovery condition, but the weights used to represent the persons need not be placed
more than 300 mm above the seat pan. The tender and its lifting arrangements should be thoroughly
examined by both the manufacturer and the attending Surveyor after the test has been conducted
and should not show any signs of damage. Testing by filling the tender with water should not be
accepted on the basis that this method of loading does not give the proper distribution of weight.
(d) Furthermore, the manufacturer shall provide a planned maintenance and inspection routine, and
guidance on how to identify any defects in the lifting points and supporting structure that may not be
immediately visible.
3. INFORMATION TO BE INCLUDED IN THE BUILDER’S CERTIFICATE
3.1 The Builder’s Certificate shall clearly state the following:
(a) Name and address of Builder.
(b) Make, Model and Hull Identification / Serial No.
(c) The as-built weight of the tender including all loose equipment with any tanks assumed to be full but
excluding any persons.
(d) The maximum lift weight for launch and recovery operations (to include the minimum number of
persons considered necessary to ensure the safety of launch and recovery operations but in no case
less than two).
(e) The maximum number of persons permitted to be onboard during launch and recovery operations.
(f) A Table for recording the dynamic load testing requirements of Section 4 of this Shipping Notice
whose form and content is as follows:
Record of Five Yearly Dynamic Load Testing*
Date Test Result** Test Conducted By Test Witnessed By
(Signature and Position) (Signature and RO / CA /
CI Stamp)
Date of Initial Test:
Date of 1st Five Yearly:
Date of 2nd Five Yearly:
Date of 3rd Five Yearly:
Date of 4th Five Yearly:
*A dynamic Load Test (using a proof load of 1.1 times the maximum Launch and Recovery weight) on board the yacht using
its own cranes is to be carried out when the tender is initially placed onboard followed by intervals of not more than 5 years.
The test shall be witnessed by a Surveyor to a Classification Society, the CISR or an MCA Certifying Authority recognised by
the CISR. This test record is to be reviewed and endorsed by the attending Surveyor upon satisfactory completion.
** Test Result may be recorded as ‘Satisfactory’ unless any evidence of damage is identified. In such cases, Lifting
Operations are to be suspended immediately and the details of any damage found is to be recorded in a separate report.
Page 2 of 4
Rev 02: 15 August 2021
Shipping Notice 04/2021
Man riding tender lifting points (Continued)
(g) A Table for recording any modifications to the tender whose form and content is as follows:
Record of Modifications Effecting Weight
Date Details of changes made including weight(s) added or removed
3.2 Furthermore, the Certificate shall include the following Statement:
“The Builder hereby confirms that the tender has been designed and constructed for man-riding operations
and that the lifting points and their supporting structure have been designed, constructed and load tested in
accordance with the requirements of Section 2.1 (c) of the Cayman Islands Shipping Notice 04/2021. A copy
of the corresponding strength calculations is appended to this Certificate. Our Document No xx dated xx
refers.”
The Certificate shall then be reviewed and endorsed by a Surveyor to an RO or CA once they are satisfied
that the details are correct and no evidence of damage was identified following the load testing referred to in
paragraph 2.1 (c) of this Shipping Notice.
4. ONBOARD LOAD TESTING
4.1 A dynamic load test (using a proof load of not less than 1.1 times the maximum launch and recovery weight)
on board the yacht using its own cranes is to be witnessed by a Surveyor to an RO, a CA or the Cayman
Islands Shipping Registry. The test should be performed by lowering the boat until it has reached its
maximum lowering speed then stopping it abruptly before it enters that water. Upon completion of the test, all
stressed structural parts should be re-inspected. The test record included in the Builder’s Certificate as
described in Section 3.1 (d) of this Shipping Notice is to be reviewed and endorsed by the attending
Surveyor upon satisfactory completion.
4.2 The test referred to in paragraph 4.1 above shall then be repeated at intervals not exceeding five years.
5. GENERAL NOTES
5.1 In cases where an RO is responsible for witnessing the load testing of the tender lifting points, this need not
necessarily be the RO with whom the yacht is Classed.
5.2 The maximum launch and recovery weight of the appliance is to be at least equal to the weight of the fully
loaded tender including all its fuel and equipment and the number of persons required for launch and
recovery operations. The number of persons required shall be confirmed by the Management Company /
Owners Representative(s) but shall in no case be less than two. The weight of each person shall be
assumed to have an average mass of at least 82.5kg in accordance with MSC.272(85).
5.3 It is strongly recommended that consideration be given to the provision of a suitable margin for growth in
order to accommodate any potential modifications to the tender throughout its service life. It is to be ensured
that any such changes maintain the weight of the tender within permissible lifting limits and are recorded on
the Builders Certificate.
5.4 A dynamic load test at 1.1 x safe working load will be performed every time any item of loose lifting gear is
replaced or repaired, and if there are any repairs to the tender’s lifting points.
5.5 A thorough visual inspection of the lifting points shall be performed prior to launching following any prolonged
period of not having been used and on a weekly basis during periods when the Tender is being regularly
launched and recovered. Such inspections shall follow the manufacturer’s instructions referred to in 2.1 (d) of
Page 3 of 4
Rev 02: 15 August 2021
Shipping Notice 04/2021
Man riding tender lifting points (Continued)
this Shipping Notice. All visual inspections shall be carried out by persons deemed competent as per the
Code of Safe Working Practices for Merchant Seaman, thus someone who has sufficient training and
experience or knowledge and other qualities that allow them to carry out the work in hand effectively and
safely. This is expected in practice to be a Deck or Engineer Officer.
5.6 Lifting Components (including strops) manufactured from synthetic fibre rope shall be replaced at intervals
not exceeding 18 months.
5.7 Operational Limitations (Beaufort Scale and Sea State) on the launching and recovery of the tender in man-
riding mode should be considered by the Company and documented in the Safety Management System.
* Recognized Organizations:
American Bureau of Shipping (ABS)
Bureau Veritas (BV)
Det Norske Veritas (DNV)
Lloyds Register (LR)
Registro Italiano Navale (RINA)
** The following MCA Certifying Authorities are authorised by the Cayman Islands Shipping Registry:
International Institute of Marine Surveying (IIMS)
Mecal Ltd
Royal Yachting Association (RYA)
Society of Consulting Marine Engineers and Ship Surveyors (SCMS)
Yacht Designers and Surveyors Association (YDSA)
Page 4 of 4
Rev 02: 15 August 2021
