– Application and interpretation of Chapter II-1/Reg. 3-13 – “Lifting appliances and anchor handling winches”, MSC.1/Circ.1662 – “Guidelines for Anchor Handling Winches” and MSC.1/Circ.1663 – “Guidelines for Lifting appliances.”
Refers to: Ship-owners, Operators, Masters and Managers of PHRS certified vessels
Effective Dates: N/A
- SCOPE & PURPOSE
This Newsletter aims to inform all interested parties about the issuance of Merchant Marine Circular MMC-408 by the Panama Maritime Authority. This MMC clarifies the provisions that are to the satisfaction of the Administration stipulated in Regulation 3-13 – “Lifting appliances and anchor handling winches.” As well as to ensure that lifting appliances and anchor handling winches fitted on Panamanian-flagged ships are designed, constructed, installed, operated, and maintained in accordance with the required standards.
- BACKGROUND
Casualty and incident reports indicate that mechanical failures of lifting appliances have caused several accidents, resulting in property loss and, most importantly, human life lost on board. For this reason, member states and industry worked together to develop mandatory requirements for lifting appliances to reduce the number of casualties caused by substandard lifting appliances.
Finally, during the 107th Session of the Maritime Safety Committee (MSC) held from May 1 to June 9, 2023, the IMO adopted new mandatory requirements for lifting appliances and anchor handling winches, which were embedded into the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) by the Resolution MSC.532(107). Moreover, Amendment MSC.532(107) includes the addition of regulation 13-13 – “Lifting appliances and anchor handling winches in Chapter II-1, which will entered into force on January 01, 2026.
For the full text please follow the link bellow.
MMC-408
For any questions or further assistance, please do not hesitate to contact us at technical@phrs.gr or Panama’s Recognized Organizations Oversight Department at segumar.headoffice@segumar.com / ro-monitoring@segumar.com.





