This article has been written by Jim Jota (Marketing Manager, Water Weights).
How Water Weights® Are Redefining Safety and Precision for Marine Lifting Equipment
The Demands of Marine Lifting Environments
Ports and shipyards are among the most equipment-intensive environments in the maritime industry, where safe lifting is non-negotiable and regulatory compliance is tightly enforced. From A-frames and davits to lifeboat systems, winches and cranes, every personnel and cargo handling component must be thoroughly tested in accordance with local and international regulations. In these high-stakes operations, Water Weights® have become the global industry standard for proof load testing, offering unmatched flexibility, safety and accuracy compared to traditional solid weights.
Onboard Lifting Equipment: Vessels and Barges
The advantages of Water Weights® are obvious when testing lifting equipment aboard ships, barges and offshore support vessels. Systems such as A-frames, davits, winches, and lifeboat launch mechanisms often require testing in confined, elevated or overboard positions where using rigid steel or concrete weights is impractical. Water Weights® are easily transported, rigged and filled incrementally to apply precise, controlled loads in these challenging conditions. Onboard lifting systems can be tested regardless of a vessel’s mooring status. This is a critical advantage for maintaining certification schedules. Testing is often completed at anchorage before berthing, allowing safety inspections and recertification to proceed without affecting port operations.
These tests are frequently witnessed and approved by surveyors from major classification societies including ABS, DNV, Lloyd’s Register, Bureau Veritas, RINA and ClassNK. Equipment such as lifeboat davits, tender systems and overboard handling gear must comply with SOLAS, the LSA Code, IMO MSC.81(70) and specific class notations. Using Water Weights® ensures controlled load application that meets regulatory accuracy and traceability requirements while maintaining safety and operational continuity on deck.
Port and Shipyard Lifting Equipment: Cranes and Infrastructure
In ports and shipyards, lifting infrastructure spans a wide range of equipment types and configurations, from Goliath cranes and Ship-to-Shore (STS) cranes to mobile and gantry cranes, rubber-tired gantries (RTGs), floating cranes and automated stacker systems. These machines often span large areas and involve dynamic, repetitive lifting operations where regulatory compliance is essential. Water Weights® are routinely used to perform proof load testing in accordance with LEEA, OSHA, LOLER and classification society requirements from DNV, ABS, Lloyd’s Register, Bureau Veritas and others. Unlike traditional test weights, Water Weights® can be deployed with minimal disruption, offering a safe and efficient load application that supports operational continuity. They significantly reduce setup and transport time when used during drydock periods or crane retrofits. This helps operators meet tight project deadlines and avoid costly work stoppages.
Sustainability and Safety Advantages
Compared to transporting and handling large volumes of solid test weights, Water Weights® significantly reduce fuel use, logistics emissions and on-site energy demands. They also enhance personnel safety through lighter rigging requirements and lower manual handling risks, aligning with ISO 45001 and ISO 14001 safety and environmental management practices. These attributes make Water Weights® not only a safer choice but a more sustainable one, supporting operators in meeting both internal ESG goals and external compliance obligations.
A Holistic Approach to Crane Safety and Compliance
Unique Group’s Water Weights® are engineered for certified load testing across various maritime lifting systems. With proven applications across naval bases, commercial ports, offshore yards and vessel construction sites, our solutions support testing requirements from 50 kg to over 100 tonnes. We offer worldwide equipment availability for rental and sale, with full-service solutions that include engineering design, load monitoring, and complete turnkey load application.
Unique Group is certified to ISO 9001:2015 (Quality Management), ISO 14001:2015 (Environmental Management), and ISO 45001:2018 (Occupational Health and Safety Management). We fully comply with global safety and testing standards, including SOLAS, IMO MSC.81(70), OSHA and lifting equipment regulations under LOLER and ASME B30. Our technicians are qualified to support load testing across major global shipyards and ports.
As part of our holistic approach to crane safety, testing, and compliance, we also offer portable Magnetic Rope Testing (MRT) for scheduled inspections and permanently installed systems for 24/7 rope integrity monitoring. This is complemented by pressurized wire rope lubrication services, crane load measurement and cut-off systems, real-time crane condition monitoring platforms and crane runway surveys.
Looking Ahead: Smarter Ports, Safer Operations
As the maritime sector embraces innovative port development, autonomous systems and AI-driven asset management, the future of port technology is becoming more interconnected, data-rich and performance-oriented. Ports of the future will rely on integrated safety, diagnostics and sustainability systems that meet today’s regulations and anticipate tomorrow’s operational challenges. At Unique Group, we deliver not just tools for compliance but intelligent systems and support that empower ports and shipyards to lead in safety, efficiency and innovation.
