Mooring safety breakthrough promises reduced snapback risk

The FUSE system, which incorporates a patented high-elongation material with a controlled trigger mechanism, activates at 60% of minimum breaking load - matching standard winch brake settings. When triggered, the system extends to 150% of its original length while maintaining line integrity, effectively preventing dangerous recoil energy release.

"A typical mooring line break releases energy equivalent to a two-tonne vehicle hitting a wall at 220 km per hour," explained Samson Rope’s Robin Collett. The company has secured ABS approval for the technology under MEG4 guidelines.

The announcement comes as Samson expands its European presence with new production facilities in Spain and France, including a 600-tonne test bed for residual strength verification. The company currently services approximately 7,000 mooring lines in the LNG/LPG sector.

Mr Collett also revealed new AI-powered inspection technology that provides instant abrasion assessment of mooring lines through smartphone imaging, replacing traditional manual rating systems.

Addressing competing technologies, Mr Collett expressed caution about core-inserted rope solutions, noting diameter increases of up to 35% could create winch capacity issues. Laboratory testing in California demonstrated potential failures in such approaches.

The development comes amid an increasing industry focus on mooring safety, with a recent industry poll indicating 80% of respondents believe better training is key to improving energy terminal safety.

Samson’s FUSE technology is currently under consideration for terminal-side deployment, with several ports expressing interest in shore-based installations.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​