Refers to: Ship-owners, Operators, Masters and Managers of PHRS certified vessels 

Effective Date: Various

 

Dear All, 

 

This Newsletter aims to inform all concerned parties about Marine Advisory 44/2025 - Revised Guidelines for Construction, Installation, Maintenance and Inspection/Survey of Means of Embarkation and Disembarkation issued by the Liberian Register as well as the  requirements about RLM-108 related to the use of record and log books onboard ships.

 

Revised Guidelines for Construction, Installation, Maintenance and Inspection/Survey of Means of Embarkation and Disembarkation

 

Background

Ships constructed on or after 1 January 2010 shall be provided with means of embarkation on and disembarkation from ships for use in port and in port related operations, such as gangways and accommodation ladders. The means of embarkation and disembarkation shall be constructed and installed based on the guidelines.

 

Revised Recommendations for Construction and Test

 

Accommodation ladders and gangways for means of embarkation and disembarkation on ships constructed on or after 1 January 2010, which are installed on or after 1 July 2026, should meet applicable international standards such as ISO 5488:2015, Ships and marine technology – Accommodation ladders, ISO 7061:2015 or ISO 7061:2024, Ships and marine technology – Aluminium shore gangways for seagoing vessels and/or national standards and/or other requirements recognized by the Administration.

Accommodation ladders and gangways installed on ships constructed before 1 January 2010, which are installed on or after 1 July 2026, should meet applicable international standards insofar as is reasonable and practicable, such as ISO 5488:1979, Shipbuilding – Accommodation ladders, or ISO 5488:2015, Ships and marine technology – Accommodation ladders, ISO 7061:1993, ISO 7061:2015 or ISO 7061:2024, Ships and marine technology – Aluminium shore gangways for seagoing vessels and/or national standards and/or other requirements recognized by the Administration.

The construction and test of accommodation ladder winches which are installed on or after 1 July 2026 on board ships constructed on or after 1 January 2010 should be in accordance with applicable international standards such as ISO 7364:2016 Ships and marine technology – Deck machinery – Accommodation ladder winches.

The construction and test of accommodation ladder winches installed on ships constructed before 1 January 2010, which are installed on or after 1 July 2026, should be in accordance with applicable international standards insofar as is reasonable and practicable, such as ISO 7364:1983, Shipbuilding and marine structures – Deck machinery – Accommodation ladder winches, or ISO 7364:2016 Ships and marine technology – Deck machinery – Accommodation ladder winches.

 

Rigging a safety net

 

A "safety net" is a net which is rigged between the ship's side and the means of (dis)embarkation to prevent a person from falling into the water or onto the quayside from a means of (dis)embarkation.

A safety net should be mounted in way of the accommodation ladders and gangways where it is possible that a person may fall from the means of embarkation and disembarkation or between the ship and quayside.

 

The safety net described above is not required if BOTH the provisions below are met:

1. The hazard of a person falling through the sides of the means of (dis)embarkation is adequately mitigated if the top railing is of rigid construction and a side net has been rigged between this railing and the base of the accommodation ladder, including its upper and lower platforms, or   the gangway (see figure below).

2. The hazard of falling over the rigid top railing is adequately mitigated if this railing is installed in accordance with relevant international standards, at a height of not less than 1,000 mm.

 

Use of Record and Log Books on board Ships

 

Background

In order to provide a uniform standard and consistency in record-keeping of Log Book entries, MARPOL, Ballast Water, Radio, and Lifting Appliances activities onboard Liberian registered ships, the record and log books listed below for use on Liberia registered ships shall be officially issued by the Administration.

 

Requirements

The Administration would like to remind ship-owners that each vessel shall maintain an up-to-date copy of the RLM-300 either in electronic or paper form. Operators can order a current version of RLM-300 via USB Stick via the instructions listed below.

 

The following record and log books shall be officially issued by the Administration in paper format; or as record book or log book in electronic format (electronic record book) approved by the Administration:

1.   RLM-110 Shipping Articles/Articles of Agreement Revision 2018

2.   RLM-112 Official Log Book

3.   RLM-120 Ozone Depleting Substances (ODS) Record Book

4.   RLM-121 Oil Record Book Part I – All ships

5.   RLM-121A Oil Record Book Part II – Oil tankers

6.   RLM-124 Ballast Water Record Book

7.   RLM-125 Garbage Record Book Part I (All ships that do not carry solid bulk cargoes)

8.   RLM-125A Garbage Record Book Part I and II Ship that carry solid bulk cargoes)

9.   RLM-126 GMDSS Radio Log Book

10. RLM 129 Register of Lifting Appliances and Cargo Handling Gear

11. RLM-333 Cargo Record Book – Ships carrying NLS

 

To order the books, please complete this publications order form or directly from the website.

 

The Administration maintains a list of approved Electronic Record Books that you can find here.

 

The Administration is also offering ship-owners/operators the following Record and Log Books for purchase:

• RLM-127 Official Marine Sulphur Record Book Revision 2023
• RLM-128 Biofouling Record Book Revision 2024
• RLM-338 Operational Safety Checklist

 

 

For more information, please contact us at technical@phrs.gr or the Liberian Registry’s Regulations and Standards Department at RegsandStandards@liscr.com.