Navigating the regulations –
so you don’t have to
so you don’t have to
Safe mooring is not only about having excellent ropes on board – it is also about meeting a growing number of international rules and guidelines. Requirements from SOLAS, OCIMF MEG4, ISO and other industry standards define how ropes and rope systems should be designed, documented, operated and maintained. For shipyards, owners and operators, this can quickly become complex and time-consuming.
Gleistein is deeply familiar with this regulatory landscape. We closely follow the development of relevant rules, understand how they interact and what they mean for practical mooring solutions on different vessel types. Our products, recommendations and documentation are developed with these requirements in mind, so that compliance is an integral part of every mooring concept – not an afterthought.
Most importantly, you do not have to work through all the details on your own. We take you by the hand, translate regulatory language into clear options and help you select a mooring system that is both technically sound and in line with the applicable framework. From choosing suitable rope types and configurations to providing the necessary certificates and supporting documentation, we are at your side all the way.
In short: we know the ropes – and the rules. So you can focus on operating your vessel safely and efficiently, confident that your mooring solution is built on solid technical and regulatory foundations.
Our approach…
…to continuous improvement
Mooring is never a one-off decision. Every line you install goes through a lifecycle – from its initial design and selection, through daily operation on board, to the continuous learning that flows back into better solutions for the future.
At Gleistein, we see this lifecycle as a continuous process without a beginning or an end. It is represented by a closed circle with four interlinked phases: Design, Select, Operate, Learn. Each phase builds on the others – and each one offers opportunities to enhance safety, reliability, and cost efficiency over the full service life of every mooring component.
This manual is structured along these four phases. It guides you step by step – from understanding the technical foundations of our rope designs, through selecting the appropriate system for your vessel, to operating your mooring lines safely and learning from their performance over time. In this way, lifecycle management becomes a practical tool for enhancing safety and efficiency in everyday mooring operations.
Attention
- Never deploy a high-modulus or wire rope mooring line without a tail!
- We strongly advise against using “mixed mooring” setups. This is largely due to the generally significant differences that can exist in the levels of elongation/elasticity of two or more different types of lines. Mixed mooring causes potentially serious safety hazards!
- Never store a damaged rope! It may otherwise be inadvertently used and result in a serious risk of injury .
- In case the D/d ratio is smaller than recommended, make sure to take additional safety measures. Check the positions of lines attached to fittings.
- Never uncoil braided rope from a lying position!
- Never uncoil braided rope from the inside!
Gleistein recommendations
- SWL ropes: 50% of LDBFSD
- Operational range of mooring lines for long service life should not exceed 20–25 % of MBLSD.
- Please try to select the D/d ratio as large as possible for your rope.
- If this is not feasible, let us review the options together and choose the most suitable rope.
- Conduct a visual inspection before and after use, and a routine inspection once per month, as required by SOLAS.
- MEG4 requires a routine inspection after 250 hours of deployment or 6 months – whichever is earlier – to beperformed by a qualified person and fully documented.
- Replace ropes, when they reach a residual break load of 75 % or a service life of 10 years after manufacturing – whichever is earlier!
- Replace after max. 10 years in storage or in use.
- Comply with 100–105% of MBLSD.
- Ensure compatibility of new rope with original fittings
- Remember: Lifespan is reduced when mooring lines are used on fittings that are too small or not optimal in size
- It is important that the documentation also includes the turning and rotation of the ropes.
- Turn ropes end to end min. every 6 months.
- Rotate rope positions min. every 12 months.
To note
Inspections following special incidents
Should one of the following instances occur, the mooring line must be immediately inspected by a qualified person!
- Suspected exposure to an excessive shock load
- Clearly audible “cracking” of the mooring line
- Exposure to chemicals
- Unexpectedly strong twisting
- External mechanical damage
Drum winch
- Number of turns required on the tension drum of the split drum winches: at least 3
- For high-modulus ropes: number of turns required on the working part of the tension drum: 4–5
- Number of layers on the tension drum of the split drum winches: only 1 allowed
To note
Two layers may cause serious damage to the rope and reduce service life!
Play it safe!
Any rope that exhibits recognisable effects of being subjected to excessive shock loads should be retired immediately!
What happens when ropes break under load?
HMPE rope: Elongation at the point of break is low. The energy released during the break is high.
High-tenacity (HT) rope: High elongation at the point of break. A large amount of kinetic energy is released.
High snapback! Danger!
The effort required to select the optimum mooring system should not be underestimated - and no aspect should be neglected. Gleistein is happy to help with the selection - and can even advise operators from the outset on the selection of the right mooring system and possible alternatives for their individual needs.
