DECK EQUIPMENTS

DECK CRANES

MOORING WINCH

ANCHOR WINDLASS

LIFT BOAT DAVITS

DECK FITTINGS

CAPSTAN
DECK CARGO CRANES
DECK CARGO CRANES
RESPONSOBILYTIES
• The Master has the overall responsibility for ensuring that the vessel's
cargo cranes are being adequately maintained and that he receives regular
updates from the Chief Engineer and Chief Officer on their condition. Any
defects which affect their operation or efficiency are to be reported to the
relevant Management Office immediately, who will decide what course of
action is to be taken. In most cases however, repairs and maintenance are
to be carried out by the ship's Officers and crew.
The Chief Engineer is directly responsible for all crane maintenance and
under his supervision and assistance, the Electrical Engineer and other
ship's Engineer Officers are to carry out all necessary repairs and
maintenance to ensure that the vessel's cranes are always in good working
order during the loading and discharging operations with due regard to
safety.
CARGO GEAR BOOK
• The Cargo Gear Book is a legal document of similar standing to the
official log book or oil record book and must be treated accordingly. It
is a declaration on the ship's part that her cargo gear complies with
the regulations.

The book must always be ready for inspection by surveyors who may
wish to inspect it prior to taking the ship's gear into use and the
Master shall be responsible for ensuring that this is always the case.
In the event of an accidence caused through failure of the ship's gear,
it would almost certainly be called in evidence.
Crane Checks Prior To Use
 Crane Oil Levels - Check the oil levels in all the relevant header tanks, servo tanks, etc.
Crane Floodlights - These must be tested, as are the interior lights in the driver's cabin and in the
machinery space.
Crane Windows - These are to be washed clean and cracked or broken windows must be replaced,
and the seals checked. Hinges and locking clamps are also to be checked that they are free.
Machinery Spaces - Must be kept clean, tidy and free from oil and water on the deck plates, and
the drains must be proven clean and clear. Cooling Fans - These must be tested and proven in
good working order. All ventilator flaps/cowlings which require to be open during crane
operation, together with associated locking devices are to be free.
Ladder ways and Platforms - These must be inspected and kept clear of any oil, grease or water
on the foot treads, and the handrails must be intact and safe.
Crane and Machinery Space Watertight Doors - Sealing rubbers to be intact and all hinges and
closing handles must be oiled and kept free.
8 Common Mistakes While Operating Deck
Machinery Systems

• 1. Bow Thruster: The deck officers operating the bow thruster joy-
stick must never increase the pitch from minimum to maximum in
one go. It can lead to sudden increase in current and damage the
motor as the BT system involves using high voltage and current. Also,
maximum given pitch should never exceed 90% and operation at
higher pitch must not be continued for long duration of time.
• 2. Mooring Winch: When ship is berthed in the jetty, the
berthing/securing operation of the ship is performed by using
mooring winches. Avoid using the brakes of the winches in place of
using reduction gear to reduce or control the speed or else it will
damage the brake lining of the drum.
• 3. Anchor Winch: Always use chain stopper when no operation is
being performed and while greasing the ship’s anchor parts. Never
grease friction washer or brake lining as this will lead to slippage of
the anchor chain while stopping.
• 4. Deck Crane: All cranes comes with maximum safe working load
capacity which is stenciled on the crane body for ready reference. Still
it’s observed that many deck crew members lift loads without even
checking the load of the lifting structure/body/ item.
• 5. Ballast system: Never start the ballast pump from the cargo control
room without checking the system valves and pump conditions from
the local position in the engine room.
• 6. Hydro blaster: For the safety of ship’s personnel, a safety switch is provided on the hydro
blaster. This “Dead man’s switch/trigger” must never be taped, tied, or otherwise altered so
that the equipment stays in the “ON” position. Also, if the high pressure pipe is not handled
properly, If the lance is dropped it will whip about wildly, causing serious injuries.
• 7. Welding/ Gas cutting : The deck maintenance commonly involves “hot work” which requires
using welding machinery. Do check the insulation of welding cable and condition of the gas
cables before using them. Check the surrounding of the hot work area (near fuel tank vent, oil
tank sounding pipe etc.) before starting the job. Also ensure that the gas cutting piping system
is equipped with flash back arrester in the line before the gas bottles.
• 8. Fire System: The fire system of the ship is supplied with high capacity fire pumps which
provide water to the hydrants present in deck and engine room. These pumps are used for
emergency situations and thus should not be isolated at any time. However, don’t forget to
isolate the fire pump and the system when carrying out any kind of maintenance in the line.
Also, after maintenance don’t forget to close the drain of the fire line.