ICSA Guidance for Land-Based Cranes Working on Vessels
Using land-based mobile cranes on barges or vessels introduces significant challenges related to stability, motion, load-handling and environmental conditions. Cranes for You includes this ICSA guidance because safe crane operations on floating or semi-floating platforms are critical for achieving Goal Zero in lifting, hoisting and specialised maritime transport operations.
Summary of the Vessel-Based Crane Guidance
- Motion and dynamic effects — Understanding vessel movement, swell, acceleration and roll, and how they influence crane stability and load control.
- Ground conditions on deck — Requirements for deck strength, load-spreading, mats, grillage and structural verification before crane setup.
- Positioning and securing the crane — Guidelines on lashing, securing systems, anti-slide measures and maintaining stability during transit or lifting.
- Environmental limits — Wind, tide, current and wave-height thresholds for safe crane operation on a floating platform.
- Operational planning & communication — Aligning crane teams and marine crews, establishing clear radio protocols, and defining responsibilities.
Practical Relevance for Marine and Offshore Projects
Applying this guidance helps teams:
- safely use mobile cranes on barges, pontoons and support vessels;
- prevent crane instability caused by vessel movement or insufficient deck support;
- establish unified procedures between crane crews and marine operators;
- conduct accurate lift planning in tidal, coastal or nearshore environments;
- reduce project delays and incidents during offshore construction or load-out operations.
Official Source
This guidance is produced by the International Crane & Specialized Transport Association (ICSA) and is also supported by ESTA Europe, the European authority for crane and heavy-transport safety.
Learn more at:
ICSA: https://icsa-crane.org
ESTA: https://estaeurope.eu/
Related Knowledge Articles
- Noble Denton Guidelines for Marine Loadouts
- STOWA Hardstands for Wind Turbines
- Noble Denton Guidelines For Lifting Operations by floating crane
Ready to Improve Safety on Floating Crane Operations?
You can download the full ICSA vessel-crane guidance from this page and apply its recommendations to strengthen your marine lifting procedures.
Cranes for You is available for lift-plan reviews, marine-crane risk assessments and project support for nearshore and offshore operations.
