§ 71.47-35 - Test and certification of wire rope.

(a) All wire rope used as shipboard cargo gear shall be able to withstand a breaking test load of at least five times the safe working load. In the case of gear with a lifting capacity of over 10 tons, the breaking test load of wire rope shall be at least four times the safe working load. All wire rope shall be identified and described in a wire rope certificate. Such certificate shall be furnished and attested to by the manufacturer or a testing agency and shall certify:

(1) The breaking test load of a sample of the wire rope, which should be at least five times the safe working load or at least four times the safe working load if part of gear with a lifting capacity of over 10 tons;

(2) The name and address of the manufacturer;

(3) The diameter of the rope in inches and/or fractions thereof;

(4) The number of strands and the number of wires in each strand;

(5) The quality of the wire (e.g. improved plow steel);

(6) The date of the test; and,

(7) The load at which the sample broke.

(b) The forms for the wire rope certificates shall be as prescribed by and acceptable to associations or organizations approved by the Commandant and shall be suitable for the purposes described in this section.

(c) In addition to the manufacturers’ or testing agencies’ attestations, a sample of the wire rope may be tested to destruction if required by the marine inspector when a visual inspection indicates an apparent defective condition.