Marine Advisory: 44/2025 - Revised Guidelines for Construction, Installation, Maintenance and Inspection/Survey of Means of Embarkation and Disembarkation

SUBJECT: Revised Guidelines for Construction, Installation, Maintenance and Inspection/Survey of Means of Embarkation and Disembarkation

Reference:

1. Regulation 3-9 of SOLAS Chapter II-2, as amended
2. MSC.1/Circ.1331/Rev.1

Dear Shipowners/Operators/Recognized Organizations/Masters/Crew:

Purpose

The purpose of this Marine Advisory is to draw the attention of shipowners, operators, recognized organizations, inspectors, masters and crew to recent revision to the Guidelines for construction, installation, maintenance and inspection/survey of means of embarkation and disembarkation, reference (b).

Background

Ships constructed on or after 1 January 2010 shall be provided with means of embarkation on and disembarkation from ships for use in port and in port related operations, such as gangways and accommodation ladders. The means of embarkation and disembarkation shall be constructed and installed based on the guidelines in reference (b).

Revised Recommendations for Construction and Test

Accommodation ladders and gangways for means of embarkation and disembarkation on ships constructed on or after 1 January 2010, which are installed on or after 1 July 2026, should meet applicable international standards such as ISO 5488:2015, Ships and marine technology – Accommodation ladders, ISO 7061:2015 or ISO 7061:2024, Ships and marine technology – Aluminium shore gangways for seagoing vessels and/or national standards and/or other requirements recognized by the Administration.

Accommodation ladders and gangways installed on ships constructed before 1 January 2010, which are installed on or after 1 July 2026, should meet applicable international standards insofar as is reasonable and practicable, such as ISO 5488:1979, Shipbuilding – Accommodation ladders, or ISO 5488:2015, Ships and marine technology – Accommodation ladders, ISO 7061:1993, ISO 7061:2015 or ISO 7061:2024, Ships and marine technology – Aluminium shore gangways for seagoing vessels and/or national standards and/or other requirements recognized by the Administration.

The construction and test of accommodation ladder winches which are installed on or after 1 July

2026 on board ships constructed on or after 1 January 2010 should be in accordance with applicable international standards such as ISO 7364:2016 Ships and marine technology – Deck machinery – Accommodation ladder winches.

The construction and test of accommodation ladder winches installed on ships constructed before 1

January 2010, which are installed on or after 1 July 2026, should be in accordance with applicable international standards insofar as is reasonable and practicable, such as ISO 7364:1983, Shipbuilding and marine structures – Deck machinery – Accommodation ladder winches, or ISO 7364:2016 Ships and marine technology – Deck machinery – Accommodation ladder winches.

Accommodation ladders and gangways for means of embarkation and disembarkation

Construction and test of accommodation ladder winches

Rigging a safety net

A "safety net" is a net which is rigged between the ship's side and the means of (dis)embarkation to prevent a person from falling into the water or onto the quayside from a means of (dis)embarkation.

A safety net should be mounted in way of the accommodation ladders and gangways where it is possible that a person may fall from the means of embarkation and disembarkation or between the ship and quayside (see figure below)

The safety net described above is not required if BOTH the provisions below are met:

1. The hazard of a person falling through the sides of the means of (dis)embarkation is adequately mitigated if the top railing is of rigid construction and a side net has been rigged between this railing and the base of the accommodation ladder, including its upper and lower platforms, or the gangway (see figure below).

1. The hazard of falling over the rigid top railing is adequately mitigated if this railing is installed in accordance with relevant international standards, at a height of not less than 1,000 mm.

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact the Regulations and Standards Department at RegsAndStandards@liscr.com.

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