Section 8 Launch and recovery appliances for unmanned small watercraft

8.1.1 This Section covers the design requirements for the launch and recovery appliances for small watercraft, such as tender boats (including workboats), personal watercraft and similar equipment which are unmanned while being handled.

8.1.2 The requirements of Ch 4, 2 Shipboard cranes are also to be complied with unless specified differently within this Section.

8.1.5 The designer shall evaluate any additional arrangement requirements based on the operational profile of the appliance. The operational profile shall be decided in collaboration with the Owner/Operator, such that it is fully understood by all parties. The operational profile and any additional requirements are to be communicated to LR for consideration.

8.1.6 The responsible National Authorities and Flag States may have additional requirements which need to be adhered to. In case of any conflict arising between these requirements and those of the National Authorities and Flag States, the requirements of the National Authorities and Flag States take precedence.

8.2.1 The definitions of the terms machinery, mothership and significant wave height are given in Ch 4, 7.2 Terms and definitions.

8.2.2 Safe Working Load (SWL). The general definition of the SWL of a lifting appliance is included in Ch 1, 2.1 Safe Working Load (SWL) of a lifting appliance. Within the context of this Section, the maximum static load for appliances used for the launch and/or recovery of unmanned small watercraft is defined as the fully laden weight (e.g. including equipment, fuel, etc.).

8.2.3 Unmanned small watercraft is defined as a tender boat or workboat, which is carried on the mothership for the purposes of transferring crew, passengers or other personnel; personal watercraft which is carried on the mothership for the purposes of recreational activities; and similar equipment; and which are all unmanned while being handled.

Values for hoisting factors between for H_1/3 of 0,6 m and 1,0 m may be linearly interpolated.

The application of lower hosting factors will be specially considered if supported by an acceptable technical justification.H_1/3 is generally limited to 1,0 m. The hoisting factor for H_1/3 beyond 1,0 m will be specially considered. The application of higher dynamic factors, other than those given above, shall be considered if required by design implications and/or environmental circumstances.

8.3.2 The duty factor shall be determined in accordance with the requirements of Ch 4, 2.3 Duty factor.

8.3.3 The heel and trim angles of the mothership shall be taken as 5° and 2° respectively. The heel and trim angles shall be applied to the dead weight of the appliance and the SWL. The heel and trim angles for values of H_1/3 above 1,0 m will be specially considered.

8.3.4 In cases where H_1/3 ≥ 1,0 m, themothership accelerations are to be taken into consideration.

8.3.5 The offlead and sidelead angles (which are to be applied to the SWL) are both taken to be a minimum of 3° unless environmental or other conditions require higher angles to be applied. The offlead and sidelead angles are to be applied in addition to the heel and trim angles of the mothership. Consideration will be given to lower angles if it can be demonstrated that such angles can be effectively restricted. The offlead and sidelead angles for H_1/3 above 1,0 m will be specially considered.

8.3.6 If necessary, adjustable bow lines (painters) and bowsing lines should be used in order to stabilise the small watercraft and in order to avoid swinging of the small watercraft.

8.3.7 Effects of wind on small watercraft shall be considered. The design wind speeds and force coefficients shall be determined in accordance with the requirements of Ch 4, 2.12 Wind loading.

8.3.8 Any loads arising from stowage of the small watercraft due to storing on the launch and recovery appliance are to be taken into consideration (e.g. small watercrafts hanging from or resting on the appliance).

8.4.1 The requirements for machinery items are defined in Ch 9 Machinery as applicable. Reference is made to Ch 9, 1.1 General 1.1.2 in particular.

8.4.2 The minimum number of wraps necessary for fibre ropes installed on winch drums will be specially considered. End terminations (for the drum and elsewhere in the reeving system) shall adequately secure the fibre rope to the winch drum (and other dead ends in the reeving system) in accordance with the rope manufacturer’s recommendations. Reference is made to the requirements of Ch 8, 7.3 Splicing and terminal connections.

8.4.3 Winch drum connections and end terminations for wire and fibre ropes shall be of an approved type.

8.4.4 The accumulated number of operating load cycles shall be recorded in order to ensure that the design lifetime of any part of the appliance (e.g. rope, winch gear, structure, etc.) is not exceeded during the service life of the appliance. This information is to be made available to the attending Surveyor.

8.5.1 The wire rope safety factor shall be determined in accordance with the requirements of Ch 4, 3.9 Rope safety factors. Rope safetyfactors for significant wave heights beyond 1,0 m will be specially considered.

8.5.2 The man-made fibre rope safety factor shall be determined in accordance with the requirements of Ch 4, 8.5 Ropes and loose gear 8.5.1 and shall be multiplied by a factor of 1,25. The instructions for use issued by the fibre rope manufacturer and any requirements, pre-cautions and limitations stated therein are to be complied with. These instructions are to be made available to the attending Surveyor.

8.5.3 The maximum number of guaranteed load cycles for the fibre rope shall be provided by the fibre rope manufacturer. The actual load cycles the reeving system is subjected to, shall be recorded and compared with the number of guaranteed load cycles for the fibre rope.

8.5.4 Hooks are to be forged. Special consideration will be given to alternative proposals.

8.5.5 Where the appliance is equipped with more than one reeving system (e.g. two beams, each with a separate reeving system), details of the arrangements to prevent unequal lowering or hoisting of the small watercraft are to be submitted for consideration and the effectiveness shall be demonstrated to the attending Surveyor.

8.6.1 Instructions for use and the maintenance manual are required to be provided. The instructions for use shall cover all operational and emergency procedures, including any conditions, pre-cautions and limitations for unmanned small watercraft launching and recovery operations.

8.6.2  The instructions for use and the marking of the appliance shall state that it is not to be used for the handling of personnel.

8.7.1 The requirements for continuous improvement are defined in Ch 4, 8.7 Continuous improvement.

8.8.1 In case it is intended to deviate from the requirements as stipulated in this Section, it is required to follow the requirements given Ch 4, 7.7 Risk assessment.

8.8.2 It is, in general, recommended to carry out a risk assessment for the appliance under due consideration of the conditions of the system (e.g. mothership, environmental) the appliance will be installed in and the interfaces between the appliance and the mothership. The risk assessment shall be carried out taking into account the methodology as given in Ch 4, 7.7 Risk assessment.

8.9.1 The testing, marking and survey of the appliance is to be carried out in accordance with the requirements of Ch 12 Testing, Marking and Surveys as applicable.