0027/nd guidelines for Marine Lifting and Lowering Operations

GUIDELINES
 
FOR
 
MARINE
 
LIFTING
 
&
 
LOWERING
 
OPERATIONS 
0027/ND Rev 11 
 
Page 66 of 84 
18.10 
SLINGS & SHACKLES 
18.10.1 
The sling laydown arrangement shall show that: 
a. 
The slinging arrangement is in accordance with acceptable good practice. 
b. 
Large diameter slings and grommets shall be painted with a white line along the length to 
monitor twisting during handling and laydown. 
c. 
The sling eyes and, if necessary, the sling bight, are to be painted on one side to ensure that 
the connection to the hook can be monitored to avoid twisting the sling. Ideally, the slings are 
to be painted so that the paint is on the outer part of the hook when the sling is connected to the 
hook. 
d. 
The sling lengths are matched as accurately as possible, unless the rigging arrangement is 
deliberately non-symmetrical to take account of centre of gravity offset, in which case matched 
pairs of slings should normally be used. Where minor mismatch in sling length exists, the slings 
should be arranged to minimise skew loads. 
e. 
The slings are adequately secured against barge motions and protected from abrasion against 
sharp edges and adjacent structure. (Where sacrificial lashings are used, see Section 6.5.4 of 
0028/ND, Ref. [3] and GPR.03 in Appendix I of 0030/ND, Ref. [5] ). Particular attention should 
be paid to rigging laid down on tall structures (e.g. high modules, jackets etc.) where high 
accelerations will be encountered during transportation. 
f. 
The slings will not foul obstructions such as walkways and handrails when lifted, and any 
unavoidable obstructions are properly protected. 
g. 
Where slings are laid down on jacket members, suitable supports should be provided and 
attention paid to the location of any anodes on the jacket members. 
h. 
The slings will not kink when lifted. 
i. 
After the lift, the slings, and spreaders if used, can be safely laid down again without damage. 
j. 
In the event that a single sling attached to a single lift point is planned, it should be doubled to 
prevent the sling unwinding under load. Where this is not possible, a means to prevent rotation 
of the lifted item and the upper connection point of the sling shall be provided. 
k. 
Slings are to be laid down such that tight bends, kinks or twists do not occur in the slings and 
there is no bending at or close to a termination. 
l. 
Slings with hand spliced terminations must be prevented from rotation during at all stages 
including sling laydown, sling pick up and when under load. 
m. 
Slings are to be protected from any welding or cutting operation carried out local to the slings 
and ensure that the slings do not come into contact with any welding or other electrical cables. 
18.10.2 
It is permissible to shackle slings together end-to-end to increase the length. However, slings of 
opposite lay should never be connected together. 
18.10.3 
It is permissible to increase the length of a sling by inserting an extra shackle (but not a wide body 
shackle because it should not be connected bow-to-bow, unless specifically allowed by shackle 
manufacturer) or specifically designed link plates. Any shackle to shackle connections should be bow-
to-bow, not pin-to-pin or pin-to-bow (unless specifically allowed by shackle manufacturers) so that 
shackles remain centred under the load and also during the load take-up. 
18.10.4 
Slings and grommets should be manufactured and inspected in accordance with the IMCA Guidance 
on Cable laid slings and grommets, Ref. [7], or similar acceptable standard. A thorough examination 
shall be carried out as required by that document for all rigging components whether new or existing. 
18.10.5 
All lifting equipment such as slings, shackles, etc. shall be manufactured in accordance with Section 
14. 
18.10.6 
All lifting equipment such as slings, shackles, etc. shall be certified in accordance with Section 15. 
18.10.7 
The lift shall be executed within the date validity of the certification of the lifting equipment.
18.10.8 
Where an existing sling has been used doubled and this sling shows a permanent kink, it shall not be 
used in a single configuration. 
18.10.9 
Consideration should be given to colour code the rigging, i.e. one colour per rigging set to each lift 
/upend point. This is good practice to avoid mix up, especially when the slings and connectors are pre-
checked “loosely” on the ground or deck before attaching to the lift points. 
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