12.15 HAULAGE AND LAUNCH

CAUTION

The lifting method depends on the type of the lifting equipment; therefore it cannot be suggested.

CAUTION

Before the haulage and launching operations, check that no foreign materials are on board, that all items are properly rigged and that nobody is on board.

WARNING

Hauling and launching operations have to be carried out only by skilled personnel and in qualified shipyards and under their direct responsibility.
RIVA declines all responsibility for damage to property and harm to persons caused by the wrong performance of the hereunder listed operations.

• The lifting hoists must be in a good condition and particularly the lifting straps should not be worn out, and should be covered with suitable protections to preserve the bulwarks gel-coat and the antifouling paint on the bottom hull.
• The travel lift capacity must be greater than the yacht weight.
• If only one crane is available, use a “spacer” to give the lifting straps an angle greater than hull width.
• Test the stability before lifting the yacht, its centre of gravity depends on the load and its displacement.

CAUTION

Never place the lifting straps in the areas highlighted on the drawing.

CAUTION

Do not put the lifting straps in way of intakes, of sea exhausts or of other protrusions.
Lifting straps must be positioned according to the loading conditions of the yacht at the moment of its lifting, because these vary remarkably, for instance, when the yacht is unloaded and dry or when the yacht is fully loaded. The lifting straps arrangement must be carefully evaluated each time, in order to prevent any damage to the yacht.

CAUTION

RIVA declines all responsibility for the location of the lifting straps, the lowering of the yacht to the ground and the support points carried out in other Shipyards.

DANGER

During haulage and launch, never stay underneath or in proximity of the yacht.

• When ashore, the yacht must be located on a cradle with five supports of width and size adequate to distribute the yacht weight evenly.
• The hull inclination must be as “natural” as possible, e.g. it must be parallel to the waterline and not to the keel. This to prevent that liquids on board keep a normal level and that rainwater can be drained naturally.

Cradles
RIVA is capable of providing the cradles for a correct support of the yacht (optional on demand). RIVA is not responsible for any damage resulting from the use of cradles different from those expressly produced by RIVA.

Propping
It is a common procedure to use supporting props if no actual storage capacities are available. It is very important to take some basic precautions while positioning the supporting props for the yacht in order to prevent damage to the hull structures, accidental falls of the yacht or injury to the involved personnel.
The following list contains useful advice.

We also recommend always having propping operations carried out by experienced personnel.

• Use props with adequate strength and stability (each keel prop must support at least 1/5 of the whole weight of the yacht).
• Use correctly dimensioned supporting plates to prevent negative weight concentrations.
• Place the props preferably next to transversal structural reinforcements (stringers).
• Locate the props along the supporting fins of the hull.
• Always place at least 5 props along the keel, 3 props starboard and 3 props port in order to guarantee stability and weight distribution.
• Start positioning the three keel supports along a straight line, appropriately spaced to distribute weight.
• It is important that the props have the same height in order to prevent that the load is concentrated mainly on one of them.
• Have the yacht lowered very slowly until it almost touches the keel props, adjust the height of the props until they are in contact with the keel, in order to guarantee a uniform load distribution and a neutral trim of the yacht; keep part of the weight supported by the crane.
• Position the adequately spaced lateral props; it is important to remember that the lateral props must guarantee stability, but the whole weight must be supported mainly by the keel props.
• Check the support for stability, then completely lower the yacht and remove the belts.

The suggestions above are to be considered as being generally valid for propping the yacht without damaging it or harming the personnel involved; however, since the propping conditions may significantly vary depending on the props used and the surface on which the props rest, the above suggestions must be adapted case by case. RIVA is therefore not responsible for any damage to the yacht occurring while the yacht is at dry shore on props.

CAUTION

RIVA declines all responsibility for the location of the lifting straps, the lowering of the yacht to the ground and the support points carried out in other Shipyards.