e) The year of production of the step;
f) Identification of the approving maritime safety administration, along with any approval indications required by the administration; and
g) Identification of the qualified organization designated by the maritime safety administration, if any.
8 Production control
8.1 Production control tests and examinations should be conducted in accordance with Annex 1.
9 Maintenance
9.1 Pilot ladders should be maintained in accordance with this section.
9.2 Damaged steps should be replaced with replacement steps meeting paragraph 4.15 and of the type supplied or specified by the ladder manufacturer. A ladder should not include more than two replacement steps.
9.3 If a ladder requires a third replacement step, it should be rebuilt. A ladder constructed with spun dacron polyester side ropes, with the inner core showing at any place throughout the length of the ladder is no longer serviceable. Such ladders should be rebuilt to the original manufacturer's standard, using new side ropes, and using undamaged steps in place of all damaged steps and replacement steps.
9.4 Each ladder should be subjected to the ladder and step attachment strength test in Table 3 at approximately 30 month intervals. Each ladder which fails the test should be rebuilt according to clause 9.3, or scrapped. The ladder should be stamped or tagged near the bottom of the ladder with the date of the test and the identification of the person or company performing the test. The person or company performing the test should also provide a test certificate to the owner of the ladder, indicating the details of the test, including the date, and the identification of the person or company performing the test.
