A rope’s integrity can be the difference between safe mooring and a catastrophic parting. Treating abrasion as a safety risk — not a cost — is crucial
On any quayside, aboard any tanker, cargo, or gas carrier, the threat of mooring rope abrasion often escapes notice — until a line parts, someone is injured, or operations are disrupted. Abrasion, the gradual degradation of fibres through friction and wear, is not simply a maintenance cost. It is a safety risk.
Mooring is inherently high-risk, and rope integrity is central to mitigating that risk. The design of the mooring system, the condition of contact surfaces, and crew competence must function in harmony. If one element fails, the whole system is compromised.
Rope wear is not new — but the industry’s response is evolving. “The aim now is not to replace damaged ropes faster, but to slow down the damage in the first place,” says Wilhelmsen Ships Service (WSS) product management and planning director for mooring solutions, Thomas Caradec. “Mooring rope abrasion needs to be recognised as a safety issue. We have to remove the mindset that it’s just a cost problem.”
The images captured during mooring inspections — lines frayed to their cores, wrapped around sharp or seized leads, or discoloured by rust — tell a broader story. Every visible point of damage reveals a failure somewhere in the system.
A key contributor to rope degradation is the condition of contact surfaces. Smooth, corrosion-free rollers and fairleads are essential. When these elements seize or rust, friction and heat increase sharply. With synthetic ropes such as HMPE, that heat can degrade fibres at a molecular level — well before visible signs appear.
Regulatory bodies are responding and IMO and the Oil Companies International Marine Forum (OCIMF) have formalised requirements through SOLAS and the fourth edition of the Mooring Equipment Guidelines (MEG4). These frameworks stress wear-zone management, certified ropes, and improved crew training. But even with these in place, challenges persist, such as inconsistent terminal infrastructure, variable weather, and uncertainty around best practices for rope protection.
“We have to remove the mindset that it’s just a cost problem”
One persistent concern is the lack of regular maintenance for mooring hardware — a factor that significantly shortens rope lifespan and forces early retirement.
Situational awareness is vital. Safe mooring requires more than just weather-watching; it means actively monitoring equipment condition — ropes and fittings alike.
