MEG4 requires a much broader approach to the design of mooring rope than previously. As well as breaking load, rope diameter and other characteristics obvious at purchase, the guidelines encompassed a whole new range of parameters such as angled endurance, material breaking force at high temperatures and axial compression resistance.
As MEG4 points out, “mooring is one of the most complex and dangerous operations for ship and terminal crew. If something goes wrong, the consequences can be severe.”
Given the endless pressures imposed on mooring ropes, it is inevitable that abrasion occurs over time. As lines rub on fairleads as they take the ceaseless movement of wind, tide and current, they gradually degrade.
The results are visible in the form of flattened yarns, broken filaments and other external evidence.
The good news is that while abrasion cannot be avoided, it can be delayed.
Some load-bearing fibers are by design more abrasion-resistant than others. Dyneema® SK78 fiber fights abrasion up to four times more effectively than generic alternatives because of its ultra-durable, lab-tested composition.
This is not an empty claim. Not only has the superiority of Dyneema® SK78 fiber been proved in specially designed equipment, it’s also been tested in the best laboratory of all. Namely, the world’s ports.
The mooring of a big ship has always been one of the most important functions of all-round seamanship, but now there’s mounting regulatory pressure to make the process safer, faster and – critically – more reliable following too many incidents of vessels breaking free and causing havoc.
When the fourth edition of the Mooring Equipment Guidelines known as MEG4 was released in 2018 by the Oil Companies International Marine Forum, it set higher safety standards. The OCIMF recognised that lines had to rise to the challenge of faster port turnarounds, ever-larger vessels and widely varying conditions including the effect of extreme heat and cold on lines.
As MEG4 points out, “mooring is one of the most complex and dangerous operations for ship and terminal crew. If something goes wrong, the consequences can be severe.”
The Dyneema® team, which was closely involved in the development of the guidelines, welcomes these higher standards. Their Dyneema® SK78 fiber is purpose-built to meet head-on the challenges of this new era in mooring.
MEG4 requires a much broader approach to the design of mooring rope than previously. As well as breaking load, rope diameter and other characteristics obvious at purchase, the guidelines encompassed a whole new range of parameters such as angled endurance, material breaking force at high temperatures and axial compression resistance.
In short, lifetime performance.
Mooring ropes should be made to last and provide comfort to ship operators, not least the crew. The challenge is, of course, that no ship, port, or crew is the same. So, in partnership with manufacturers of premium mooring ropes, ropes made with Dyneema® SK78 fiber are designed to handle the endless stresses and strains imposed during mooring operations that result in fatigue, abrasion, creep, and temperature. Any one of these “FACTs” can lead to failures.
The mooring experts at Dyneema® have put together a video series about the FACTs to consider when selecting mooring lines. Their Abrasion video explains how and why they have engineered Dyneema® SK78 fiber so that it offers up to four times the resistance to abrasion compared to generic alternatives.
Want more information? Connect with one of Dyneema’s experts by clicking this link. Connect to an expert (dsm.com) or scan the QR code.
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