The International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) has released a newly revised edition of its widely referenced Code of Practice, IMCA LR008, M179, covering the manufacture and safe use of cable-laid slings and grommets.
This second revision marks a significant update to the 2005 edition and reflects substantial industry advances and current best practices.
The original document, aligned with the UK Health & Safety Executive Guidance Note PM 20, had not seen major updates since its initial publication. Over time, however, industry capabilities have evolved, particularly with the availability of larger test facilities that enabled destructive testing of cable-laid slings.
These tests revealed that, in some cases, spliced cable-laid slings exhibited premature core failure at lower-than-anticipated breaking loads when compared to the expectations set by the original 2005 guidance.
Recognising these findings and the emergence of alternative methods of eye construction beyond spliced eyes, IMCA convened a dedicated working group in April 2025 to undertake a comprehensive revision of the Code. The working group consisted of representatives from the IMCA Lifting & Rigging Management Committee and leading industry organisations including:
- Heerema Marine Contractors
- Saipem
- Boskalis
- TechnipFMC
- United Offshore Services
- Gebr. Henschel GmbH
- Subsea7
- Usha Martin Italia
- Franklin Offshore
Expanded and updated technical guidance
The updated code now provides detailed, up-to-date guidance for those involved in offshore heavy-lifting operations using cable-laid slings and grommets. It covers all critical stages – construction, rating, testing, certification, examination, and use – and is aimed at improving safety, reliability, and consistency in engineering lifts.
Key additions and changes include:
- Glossary of terms and abbreviations: A comprehensive glossary to aid clarity and understanding.
- Unit rope descriptions: Details on the types of unit ropes used in sling manufacture, including clarification that a wire rope of a specific grade (eg 1960) may be constructed from wires of closely related grades such as 1770MPa or 2160MPa.
- Sling eye opening angle limitation: A new recommendation that the sling eye opening angle (Θ) should not exceed 20° under load to avoid stressing the splice. If the angle is greater, manufacturers must provide evidence confirming the angle does not compromise capacity.
- Updated pin diameter guidance: For cable-laid ropes with a diameter exceeding 451mm, the nominal pin diameter used for sling length measurements has been increased to 1250mm.
- New appendix on transport and handling: Additional guidance is provided for the safe transportation and handling of large-diameter slings and grommets.
This revision represents IMCA’s continued commitment to safety, innovation, and technical excellence in the offshore lifting and rigging sector.
The updated Code of Practice on the manufacture and use of cable-laid slings and grommets (IMCA LR008, M179 – Rev. 2 – April 2025) is now available for Members to download from the IMCA website.