Identification, Maintenance And Certification Of Wire Ropes Identification

Q:-Comment in detail w.r.t ships lifting appliances on:

 Identification, Maintenance And Certification Of Wire Ropes Identification :-

1. Wires have for many years played an integral role in the daily operation and function of nearly every commercial vessel afloat. Applications will vary according to vessel type and purpose. Wire ropes are used in many applications such as for life boats, Elevators, Mooring, Cranes, Cargo lashings and in form of slings.

2. Wire ropes used in long lengths without terminations are not usually marked. The manufacture’s certificate for the wire is endorsed with its place of use to enable identification. A wire or wire sling with a thimble or loop splice ferrule should be proof-loaded and the safe working load stamped on the ferrule.

3. Markings on slings should be made in a permanent manner on: — the terminal ring or link;

— a tablet, disc or ferrule attached to the sling, provided that the attachment will not cause damage to the rope;

— a ferrule of a wire rope having ferrule-secured eyes; — the sling itself;

— a label; or

— by an approved electronic capture system.

4. Markings on slings should include the number of legs and the safe working load in straight lift and when the angle between the legs and the vertical is 45º.

5. Non-metallic slings should be marked with a label.

6. Ropes must be clearly marked in a way which relates them uniquely to their test Certificate.

Certification :-

1. Regulations concerning the testing, certification, thorough examination and inspection of wire rope will be implemented by the competent authorities and organisations appointed by them in accordance with the requirements of ILO Convention 152: articles 21 to 26.

2. The convention requires that Form No. 4 – Certificate of test and thorough examination of wire rope should be issued in conjunction with Register (Form No. 1). It includes details of :

• The competent person who carried out testing and thorough examination, date, place and signature.
•  Name and address of maker or supplier. 
•  Nominal diameter.
• Number of strands.
•  Number of wires per strand.
• Type of core.
• Lay of wire.
• Date of test of sample.
• Quality of wire (N/mm2).
•  Load at which sample broke (tonnes). 
• Safe working load of rope (tonnes).
• Intended use.

3. ISO 4309 - Cranes – Wire ropes – Care, maintenance, installation, examination and discard , sets out more comprehensive guidelines in comparison with those included in the ILO booklet.

Maintenance:-

1. Visual inspection of all ropes for broken wires, flattening, basket distortion, excessive wear or surface corrosion, or other signs of damage.

2. Checks of all rope terminations.

3. All wire ropes on lifting appliance should be regularly coated with a dressing free from acid and alkali.

4. The dressing should be applied where it is practical and safe to do so, the dressing should be applied where the rope passes over pulley, as the bending of the rope facilitates the penetration of dressing.

5. It may be necessary to clean wire ropes used in dusty or abrasive environments thoroughly before applying the dressing.

6. If a wire rope has deteriorated, the defective parts should not be joined together.