FLAG ADMINISTRATIONS


Each flag state can have its own additional rulings. Examples: vessels under a Danish flag need to have a safety inspection performed every three months. The German Flag requires a safety inspection every 2½ years. China has no rules for third- party inspections at all.


For merchant vessels, our advice is to have a third-party safety inspection performed each year, and a load test every five years. For ferries, offshore platforms and cruise vessels more frequent inspections and service calls are recommended, because of high- frequency use (and possible abuse by passengers).


NATIONAL ELEVATOR INSTITUTES


National elevator institutes (many countries have one) often set out guidelines for elevator service companies (for instance for safety inspections). These guidelines do differ somewhat by country, but in general, they are set out as follows for marine elevator service companies:


- Business processes must be formalized;


- Liability insurance of sufficient coverage needs to be in place (€1 million+);


- Technicians need to have had formal elevator training, have a national recognized diploma, and/or have a substantial number of years of experience in the field;


- For marine elevators on offshore platforms, special certificates apply (NOGEPA, OPITO, HUET);


- A formalized plan for safe working and risk assessment needs to be in place;


- All technicians need to be trained and aware of safety.


INSURERS


It is advisable for owners to check with their liability insurer about marine elevator maintenance rules, just to be on the safe side. If a serious elevator accident does occur, they are the ones deciding on the coverage (or not) of all cost. “Negligence” is the keyword in general (having your elevator serviced by a local plumber for example).


"MAKER APPROVED" AGENTS


There are no rules or regulations for marine elevator service companies to be "maker approved". Some manufacturers imply the need for it though; they insist that only OEM-


approved technicians are allowed to work on their marine elevators; an owner could be held liable in case of a possible incident.


This point is understandable from a commercial point of view, but legally there is no basis for it and no liability insurer can force an owner to do so. In fact, it is forbidden within the EU to protect the market in such a way.


Often OEMs service other brands of marine elevators themselves, not following their own authorization rules they propagate. OEMs are also quite reluctant to hand out authorization letters to marine elevator service companies. Market protection of their own installed base can be a (silently) heard reason, but another excuse that is heard in the market is that "it's just too much hassle to manage an agent network". From Schindler KK: “Business style of this kind is very difficult for us to handle, so we decided not to have authorized companies”.


CONCLUSIONS


There is no such thing as an ISO or Class certified company.


Do not take risks: ask your marine elevator company (including OEM agents) how they guarantee top quality and safety.


78 | The Report • June 2021 • Issue 96


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