0027/nd guidelines for Marine Lifting and Lowering Operations

18.7 
SAFE ACCESS 
18.7.1 
Adequate and safe access and working platforms should be provided for connection of slings, 
particularly where connection or disconnection is required offshore or underwater. 
18.8 
LOOSE EQUIPMENT 
18.8.1 
All loose equipment, machinery, pipework and scaffolding shall be secured against movement during 
the lift, and the weights and positions allowed for in the gross weight. 
18.9 
SEAFASTENING REMOVAL AND LIFTING OPERATIONS 
18.9.1 
Section 9.4 of 0030/ND, Ref.[5], “Guidelines for Marine Transportations” applies to Seafastening 
removal criteria. 
18.9.2 
Seafastening on the transport barge should be designed: 

To minimise offshore cutting 

To provide restraint after cutting 

To allow lift off without fouling. 
18.9.3 
All cut lines should be clearly marked. Where a 2-stage lift is planned - e.g. barge to lift vessel, then lift 
vessel to final position, involving 2 sets of cut lines, these should preferably be in different colours. 
18.9.4 
Completion of the Seafastening removal is to be carried out once the lift rigging is connected to the 
hooks and the slack taken out of the rigging. 
18.9.5 
For the condition where the seafastenings have been cut and the module is supported on the grillage 
without any restraint from seafastenings, the grillage is to be designed to ensure that it can resist the 
vertical weight of the lifted item and the lateral load from a 5° static heel. Where the barge is ballasted 
to a known heel to ensure simultaneous lift off (see Section 18.6.5), then this heel shall be added to 
the 5° static heel. The design should also demonstrate that the coefficient of friction between the 
module and the grillage is of a magnitude to allow the transfer of the lateral load and, if not, an 
alternative means of transferring the lateral load from the module into the grillage is to be provided. 
18.9.6 
Where clashes with the lifted structure might occur during the lift, the primary mitigation is to ensure 
that all secondary steel that has the potential for clashing with the structure is marked for pre-lift 
removal; the selection criteria should be as in Section 16.2.
18.9.7 
If the transport vessel is to be moved as part of a lifting operation it is important that all constraints are 
documented as part of the lifting procedure to prevent clashes, e.g. the barge shall be removed in a 
specific direction only. In all cases the constraints on the operation (the lift and associated post-lift 
vessel movements) should be clearly documented in the lift procedure.
18.9.8 
It should be thoroughly verified (by dedicated personnel) that the cutting is complete before the final 
‘go-ahead’ for lifting is given. It should also be ensured that the crane operator(s) are provided with the 
expected hook loads (based on the latest weight and CoG data) so that the lift operation can be 
suspended if it is considered that the Seafastening has not been fully released or the lifted items is 
“locked up” or snagging. 
18.9.9 
Adequate equipment must be available on the transport barge, including as appropriate: 

Burning sets 

Tuggers and lifting gear 

Means of securing loose seafastening material 

Lighting for night operations 

Safety equipment for personnel. 

Safe access to and from the transport barge. 
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