Risk Bulletin ALLIANZ GLOBAL CORPORATE & SPECIALTY® www.agcs.allianz.
com
PORTABLE LAND
CRANES ON BARGES
Number 47
January 2014
Waterborne exposures
for portable cranes and
excavators can present
additional risks and
concerns other than those
encountered when this
type of contractors’
equipment is used on land.
Securing the crane so that
it does not move while in
operation is required. The
crane’s lifting capacities
are generally always
reduced, the stability of the
barge with a shifting crane
load comes into play and
the condition and
suitability of the barge is a
critical factor.
SECURING THE CRANE
All cranes used on barges, vessels or other means of Any of the systems used must be designed by a marine
flotation must be physically attached to the barge. Cranes engineer, registered professional engineer familiar with
should be placed on hardwood timber mats in order to floating vessels or qualified person familiar with cranes
protect the deck of the barge and to adequately spread on floating vessels.
the load. The wood mats need to be separately secured Exceptions to the above can only be allowed if a marine
to the deck to prevent any movement. engineer or registered professional engineer develops and
There are four options for securing land cranes to barges signs a written plan for the use of the mobile crane that
as outlined in 29 CFR 1926.1437(n). demonstrates that the applicable requirements of the
CFRs are met despite the position, travel, operation, and
Option 1: Direct cross cabling, chains, welding, bolting
lack of physical attachment. Specific areas that the crane
or otherwise connecting directly to the barge.
is allowed to travel have to be clearly marked and the
Option 2: Corralling with barricade restraints that do not environmental conditions outlined that must be present
allow the equipment to shift by any amount in for the use of the plan.
any direction.
Option 3: Directly mounted and secured to rail system
will rail clamps and stops.
Option 4: A centerline wire rope system that is physically
attached to the barge that can fully support
the side load of the crane and that will secure
the crane in one position while in operation.
The inspection should not be an external only inspection
and must include an internal compartment inspection. The
barge internally should be in good condition and free of
any cement patches, shingles or other types of “patches”
that could fail at any time and result in flooding of a
compartment. “Maintenance Pumping” of tanks on a
regular basis is a sure sign of new leaks or temporary
repairs beginning to fail.
Typical portable land crane on raft of flexifloats
BARGE STABILITY AND
SUITABILITY
The condition of the barge directly relates to the suitability
Heavy wastage and deterioration of internal structural members
and stability of the barge. The barge should be in a
watertight condition, even above the anticipated It is also important that the barges’ watertight bulkheads
waterline. Hatches should be positively secured and any are intact and in good condition. If for some reason the
other holes or means of water ingress should be repaired barge is holed below the waterline, such as from a
or secured. grounding or contact/collision from another vessel landing
alongside, the flooding needs to be contained within one
compartment and water not allowed to communicate
between compartments that can lead to progressive
flooding, which can sink a barge. Also the barge with the
crane on deck (but not under load) should have
compartmentation such that it can withstand the flooding
of one of the largest compartments and still remain
upright & stable.
Opening in deck with no cover allowed water to fill compartment
This photo shows the results of a swamped barge due to:
1. Wind, waves and multiple openings in the deck allowing water ingress
and causing the raft to list
Hole cut in deck to facilitate ballasting with no cover
2. Crane mats and crane not secured separately or properly to the deck
Barges that are leased should require both an “On-Hire”
and a “Suitability” survey. Just an “On-Hire” survey A list and trim indicating device must be placed in the cab
conducted by the barge owner to protect his interests or operator’s station.
resulting from any barge damage during the term of the While the crane is in operation the maximum list or trim
lease is not sufficient to determine if the barge is of cannot exceed 5 degrees.
suitable size, construction and condition for the intended
use. In fact, On Hire surveys will often state that the report Additional construction equipment temporarily or
is a record of condition for charter purposes, and no permanently stored on the barge must be taken into
opinion is expressed as to the barge’s condition or consideration for the stability and trim of the barge.
suitability for service.
2
Vertical Line
intersecting the
Rotation INSPECTIONS
waterline and the
center line of In addition to otherwise required inspections for cranes
rotation and derricks, the crane and barge should be inspected at
the following intervals:
Boom
Crane
SHIFT
1. Inspection of crane tie downs
Radius (Reach)
Lifted Load WEEKLY
Waterline
1. Full, empty or partially filled barge compartments
Barge should all be inspected or sounded for leakage
MONTHLY
1. Inspection of crane tie downs
2. Watertight integrity of barge including, hatches, decks
CRANE LIFTING CAPACITY and internal inspection of compartments for leaks
and/or water accumulation. It is important that any
AND WORKING RADIUS compartments filled for ballast to offset a crane lift be
pressed full and not left partially flooded, as the
Crane lift capacity charts must be modified (reduced) by resulting free surface effect will have a very negative
either the manufacturer or a qualified person who has effect on stability and can lead to an unstable lift and/
expertise with respect to both land crane/derrick capacity or capsizing of the barge.
and the stability of the barge. The size of the barge or
3. Deck loads are properly secured
pontoon raft will directly affect the reduction in lifting
capacity. 4. Firefighting and lifesaving equipment in good operable
condition
Reduced lifting capacity chart is required to be placed
in the operator’s cab or at the operator’s station.
Insufficient securing. Only one (1) ¾” wire looped over treads at each Note hole cut in deck and the portable pump & hose on deck. Barge
end. Crane mats are not secured to the deck. must be regularly pumped to keep the compartment from flooding.
ANNUALLY
(In addition to of the shift, weekly and monthly inspections)
1. External condition of the barge by a qualified person
for corrosion, wear, deterioration or deformation.
Manhole covered with wooden hatch.
3
EVERY FOUR (4) YEARS
1. Full barge internal and external inspection by a marine
engineer, marine architect, qualified surveyor, or other
qualified person.
Monthly, Annual and four year inspections are to be
documented and retained a minimum of four (4) years.
All new or reinstalled floating cranes should be inspected
and load tested by, or under the direction of, a qualified
person to not less than 100% or more than 110% of the
modified rated load.
Though not a requirement for most inland deck barges,
hull plate should be audio gauged at least every 5 years
and any hull plate wasted over 25% should be replaced.
Plywood sheets cover holes in the deck.
Also, the crawler crane is not secured.
ARC Marine Risk Publications cited
Consultants are able to
29 CFR, Floating cranes/derricks and land
assist clients in addressing
cranes/derricks on barges, standard no.
these complex issues and
1926.1437
help them make the best
decisions for their cargo. ASME B30.8-1999 Floating Cranes and
Listed below are some Floating Derricks (2010 edition is available)
resources for additional
IMUA: Cranes, An Underwriting
reading on this subject.
Guide, 2008
RB-ARC-47-en Design: Graphic Design Centre
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