Load Testing & Proof Load

Shipboard load testing and proof load services

Load testing and proof load verification confirm that a lifting or launching system can carry more than its rated load without deformation, slippage or brake failure. On board, the work typically involves lifeboat, rescue boat and liferaft davit winches, provision and stores cranes, engine-room overhead cranes and gantries, lifting eyes and pad eyes, monorails, trolleys, and temporary rigging points used for machinery overhauls. The test itself is short; the planning is not. Test loads must be calculated, weights or water bags delivered to the berth, and the procedure accepted by the competent person or surveyor.

vslSafety coordinates providers who bring certified weights, water bags and load cells, test under a written procedure and issue the documentation inspectors expect. Where the appliance is a cargo crane or falls within a full lifting-gear register review, the work can be combined with lifting appliance and cargo gear certification.

Regulatory requirements and standards

The applicable rule depends on what is being tested:

• LSA launching appliances – Resolution MSC.402(96), in force since 1 January 2020 under SOLAS regulation III/20, requires an annual operational test of davit winches by lowering the empty craft or an equivalent load and abruptly applying the brake, and a five-year operational test with a proof load equal to 1.1 times the weight of the survival craft or rescue boat with its full complement of persons and equipment. Release gear is overhauled and tested at the same 1.1 factor at five-year intervals. This work is normally carried out by the manufacturer or an authorised service provider.
• Lifting appliances of 1,000 kg SWL and above – SOLAS regulation II-1/3-13, adopted by MSC.532(107), applies from 1 January 2026. The associated Guidelines for Lifting Appliances (MSC.1/Circ.1663) call for a load test after installation and after major repairs or alterations, a retest at least once every five years, and a thorough examination annually and after every load test. Existing appliances are brought into the regime at the first safety construction (or passenger ship safety) renewal survey after 1 January 2026.
• Other lifting points – engine-room lifting eyes, pad eyes and beams below the SOLAS threshold are generally covered by class rules, flag requirements, the ship’s safety management system and national lifting regulations. Test factors and intervals vary, so the governing standard should be agreed before mobilising.

Testing intervals

Item	Requirement	Interval	Reference
Davit winches (lifeboat, rescue boat, liferaft)	Operational test with empty craft or equivalent load, brake abruptly applied	Annual	MSC.402(96)
Davit winches	Dynamic brake test with 1.1 × craft plus full complement and equipment	Five-yearly	MSC.402(96)
On-load / off-load release gear	Overhaul and operational test at 1.1 × load	Five-yearly	MSC.402(96)
Cranes and lifting appliances ≥ 1,000 kg SWL	Load test to Circ.1663 test load; thorough examination	At least every five years; examination annually	SOLAS II-1/3-13, MSC.1/Circ.1663
Lifting eyes, pad eyes, beams below the SOLAS threshold	Proof load and marking	Per class, flag or SMS; after repair or modification	Class / flag / company procedures

What the service includes

• Review of previous test certificates, maker’s data, SWL markings and the lifting appliance register
• Calculation of the test load and preparation of a written test procedure and risk assessment
• Supply of certified solid test weights or proof-tested water bags, with fill and discharge equipment
• Calibrated load cells or dynamometers for in-situ testing where weights cannot be used
• Static proof-load tests on lifting eyes, pad eyes, beams and trolleys
• Dynamic davit winch brake tests, including measurement of lowering speed and stopping distance where required
• Pre- and post-test visual examination of welds, foundations and stressed parts, with NDT arranged if indicated
• Marking of SWL and test date, and issue of test certificates and a defect report

Equipment types covered

Typical items include lifeboat, rescue boat and liferaft davits; provision, hose-handling and stores cranes; engine-room cranes and monorails; and fixed lifting points in machinery spaces and stores. Makers encountered include Schat-Harding, Davit International, Hatecke, Fassmer, Viking Norsafe and Chinese yard-supplied systems. Davit-specific servicing beyond the load test is covered under davit and launching appliance servicing.

Common defects and PSC findings

• No evidence of the five-year 1.1 proof-load test for davit winches, or certificates that do not match the installed equipment
• Winch brakes slipping or failing to hold during the dynamic test, often from contaminated or worn linings
• Lifting eyes and pad eyes with no SWL marking, no test record, or visible corrosion and cracking at the weld toe
• Provision cranes with inoperative limit switches or overload protection

Certificates and documents you receive

Expect a load test certificate for each appliance or lifting point stating the SWL, test load, method and result; a thorough examination report where required; calibration certificates for load cells and certificates for the test weights or water bags; and photographs and a defect list. For davits, the report should reference MSC.402(96) and be issued by an authorised service provider. Final acceptance rests with the flag Administration, class and the attending surveyor.

How to prepare the vessel

• Confirm the berth allows water-bag filling and draining, or crane access for delivery of solid weights
• Arrange a clear, segregated test area and ensure nobody works beneath the load
• Have the lifting register, previous certificates and maker’s manuals available
• For davits, plan the test with the boat or craft removed and replaced as the procedure requires, and consider tidal and weather conditions
• Book class attendance early if the surveyor must witness the test

Information needed for a quotation

• Vessel name, IMO number, flag and class
• Port, berth or anchorage, ETA and ETD
• Appliance list with type, maker, model, serial number and SWL
• For davits, the craft weight and complement; for cranes, outreach and test radius
• Number of lifting eyes or pad eyes and their marked SWL
• Date of the last load test and copies of previous certificates
• Whether water bags, solid weights, shore crane or class attendance are needed

vslSafety coordinates a suitable provider with the right test equipment at the vessel’s port and aligns the attendance with the port call.

Frequently asked questions

How often do lifeboat davits need a load test?

Under MSC.402(96), davit winches get an annual operational test with the empty boat or an equivalent load, with the brake abruptly applied during lowering. Every five years the winch must be tested with a proof load of 1.1 times the weight of the craft with its full complement of persons and equipment, and the release gear is overhauled and tested at the same factor. Stressed structural parts are reinspected after each test.

Can water bags be used instead of solid test weights?

Yes, in most cases. Water bags are practical on board because they can be filled in place and the load increased gradually, and they are widely accepted when the bag and load cell carry valid certificates. Some tests, particularly on small lifting eyes or in confined engine-room spaces, are easier with solid weights or a load cell against a fixed anchor point. The attending surveyor or competent person agrees the method.

What test load is used for a provision crane?

For cranes under SOLAS regulation II-1/3-13, MSC.1/Circ.1663 gives 1.25 times SWL up to 20 tonnes, SWL plus 5 tonnes from 20 to 50 tonnes, and 1.1 times SWL above 50 tonnes. The flag Administration may apply its own table, and older certificates may have been issued to different rules, so confirm the governing standard before mobilising weights.

Do engine-room lifting eyes need to be load tested?

Many flags, class societies and company procedures expect fixed lifting points to be marked with their SWL and supported by a test certificate, with retesting after repair or modification. Requirements vary, and items below the SOLAS 1,000 kg threshold may fall under class or company rules rather than SOLAS. A document review before the port call establishes which points are due.