Mooring ropes come with a Caution - never underestimate the power released if they snap.

left picture is the result of a rope snapping and bending the pipeline - think what this would have done to a crew member.

What is concerning is the rope was less than two years old and had lost more than 50% of its residual strength so the rope parted before the mooring winch brake rendered as per requirements. - thus crew can have the "false" impression that the winch will release before the rope snaps.

Here is a video of ropes snapping - wind picked up and the tension overcame the ropes SWL.

Here good procedures and preparedness onboard is required. 

As winds can pick up very fast - how is the crew prepared to meet such conditions?

Do you have an anchor ready to be deployed or already out if the forecast showed a risk of heavy wind gusts?

Did you fasten with more ropes "just in case" as ropes have a better pull strength than what a tugboat can push its always better to have some extra ropes connected?

1. STORAGE

The rope should be stored off the ground, to allow adequate ventilation.

Spare ropes should be stored in clean, dry and cool areas out of direct sunlight, where possible, under-deck or under a suitable cover.

Never store rope on dirty decks, or drag over rough deck plating as dirt and grit picked up by the rope can work Into strands and cut the Inside fibers.

Keep away from all types of chemicals and exposure to all forms of heat.

In cases of long-term storage used ropes should be hosed down with fresh water to reduce salt crystals that affect life and efficiency of the ropes.

3. Sharp Bends

Sharp bends around any piece of equipment should be avoided.

Where a static rope passes around any surface with a deflection of 10 degrees or more then the diameter of the surface should be a minimum of three times the rope diameter.

Any sharp bend In a rope under load will substantially decrease Its strength and may cause premature damage or failure.

5.Capstans and Winches

Ropes used on a single drum or split drum winches should be installed under tension and the initial layers should be a close tight fit between the flanges to prevent burying into the lower layers.

A minimum of eight wraps of rope should be maintained on the drum at all times.

Care should be exercised to avoid surging while the capstan or winch head is rotating.

Excessive surging or slippage causes localized overheating which can melt or fuse synthetic fibers with resulting loss of strength.

The “furry" look of a well used synthetic fiber rope is not necessarily an indication of weakness. In fact, the "furry” or hairy surface can serve to protect the rope.

7.Rope Inspection

In use, the rope should be inspected regularly for evidence of chemical attack (discoloration other than operation soiling), kinking, surface abrasion including major yarn or strand cuts and both external and internal strand heat fusion indicated by glazed areas or heavy fluffing and powdering.

A braided rope should be examined along with their entire length for areas of stiffening or inconsistent diameter, where the rope has either flattened or has an unusual lump or a surface hernia.

This can indicate internal damage or core failure due to overloading or severe shock loads. If limited to one small section, the damaged area may be cut out and re-spliced, otherwise, the rope should be discarded.

Check splices and tucks for evidence for movement or misalignment. If in doubt, please cut off and re-splice.

9. Rope Installation

Full guidelines for rope Installation and operation are available on request from Xinglun Rope.

2. ROPE SAFETY  

Never stand in line with a rope under tension!

Never stand in loops!

If a rope fails it can recoil with sufficient force to cause serious injury or even death.

Be observant on the ropes condition, if the strand is broken or frailed - retire the rope before it accidentally breaks and causes injury.

Ensure all end terminations are adequate to take shock loads.

Use correct safety factors. Remember to de-rate rope strengths for Incorrect end fitting and wear.

4. Retiring Ropes

Apart from rejecting your rope when obviously damaged, it is wise to establish lifetimes of your ropes within the parameters of the use for which it was selected.

This will allow you to retire your rope on a regularly scheduled basis, provided that your conditions of usage remain unchanged.

Remember to re-establish your discard criteria if changing rope type, rope material or rope type breaking load.

Safety of life and property is the prime consideration.

If in doubt, please contact us for a recommendation.

6.Eye Splices

The length of an eye in a rope should be a

minimum of three times, and preferably five

times, the diameter of the item around which it is to be passed.

This will ensure that the angle between the two legs of the eye will not cause a tearing action at the throat of the eye.

For instance, if the eye of a mooring line is passing around a 600mm diameter bollard, then the eye should be a minimum of 1.8 meters and preferably 3 meters.

8.Handling

When a rope is supplied in a coil, it should always be uncoiled from the inside so the first turn comes from the bottom in a counterclockwise direction.

If a rope is supplied on a reel, this must be allowed to freely rotate on a central pin or pipe so that the rope can be drawn off the rope lay.

Never take the rope from a reel lying on its side.

Braided ropes cannot be kinked, but twist can be imparted into the ropes in

service.

Excessive twist can cause an imbalance between the right and the left-hand strands and should, therefore, be removed as soon as possible by counter-rotating the rope when it is relaxed.

Colored tracer can be a helpful reference when removing the excessive twist.