Personnel transfer by crane
What is being checked
The inspector is checking whether planning, equipment condition, competent supervision and real-time monitoring provide safe personnel transfer by crane under the vessel's actual freeboard, weather, movement and terminal conditions.
Ready onboard
0/6 completePractice questions
Answer aloud, then open the preparation point.
1Who authorises and supervises personnel transfer by crane?
Identify the responsible officer and the competent operator or attendant, including who monitors changing conditions.
2What are the stop criteria?
Use defined limits for approved transfer method, crane and basket certification, operator competence, communications, weather, vessel movement, exclusion zone and recovery, equipment defect, lost communication and unsafe movement.
3Show the pre-use inspection.
Physically verify approved personnel basket or carrier, crane, hooks, safety devices, tag lines, PPE and communications and reconcile the check with risk assessment, lift plan, crane and carrier certificates, pre-use check and operator competence.
4How will a person be recovered after a fall or equipment failure?
Explain the immediate alarm, fall protection or flotation, retrieval method, medical response and alternative access.
5What changed since the last use?
Check rigging, certification, repairs, berth geometry, weather and vessel condition rather than copying the previous assessment.
Where an observation may arise
The assessment did not address approved transfer method, crane and basket certification, operator competence, communications, weather, vessel movement, exclusion zone and recovery.
Inspection identified unapproved basket, cargo crane not approved for personnel, bypassed limit, poor communication or unsafe motion.
The arrangement lacked a responsible officer, competent attendant or continuous monitoring.
Operation continued beyond a weather, movement, angle, freeboard or maker limit.
No effective recovery method was immediately available.
Physical condition or configuration did not agree with risk assessment, lift plan, crane and carrier certificates, pre-use check and operator competence.
Past observations for practice
The ship was not fitted with any crane capable of personnel transfer.
Master's practical note
Assess the arrangement as a moving system, not a static appliance. Vessel movement, changing tide and the interface with shore usually determine whether a compliant arrangement remains safe.
Equipment boundary and references
Equipment boundary: Follow SOLAS, flag, port, terminal and maker requirements. Stop the operation if a safe arrangement cannot be maintained, even if commercial delay results.
References
- OCIMF SIRE 2.0 Question Library Part 1, Version 1.0, Question 5.10.4
- SOLAS Chapter II-1 regulation 3-13
- ILO Convention 152
Last reviewed: 2026-09-13
