The information relating to the Amendments to the "Safety and Health Regulations for Longshoring" of the USA "Occupational Safety and Health Administration" (OSHA) has already been shown in NK Technical Information No. 276.

Further information has just been received from OSHA in respect of its interpretation of certain requirements and of application thereof, and its summary is shown below. (Some of the following information are same as shown in NK Technical Information No. 276.)

1. The Amendments to the OSHA "Safety and Health Regulations for Longshoring" has been effective since 21 January 1998.
2. The Amendments require cargo gear of all ships loading/unloading at USA ports to be subjected to an annual thorough examination on and after 27 July 1998, and load testing every five years on and after 16 July 2001, under ILO Convention No. 152, and certified accordingly.
3. The Amendments also require ramps (including ramps inside the ships, such as Ro-Ro ships) to be marked with a safe working load (load capacity) determined from the ships design plans. These ramps are however not required to be furnished with a certificate of inspection.

For ships of which cargo handling appliances are surveyed under the Society's Rules, their derrick systems should be subjected to an annual thorough examination instead of an annual examination and a quadrennial thorough survey (every four years), both required under the Rules, and be certified on and after 27 July 1998. Cargo gears (such as cranes and derrick systems) should then be subjected to load testing every five years and be certified on and after 16 July 2001. It is therefore recommended that necessary actions should be taken before enter in the USA ports.

By this issue, NK Technical Information No. 276 is canceled accordingly.

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