 Safe handling of mooring Ropes.

The Number of Layers of Wire on the Drum

1. The holding capacity of a winch brake is in inverse proportion to the number of layers of the
2. mooring wire or rope on the drum. The designed holding capacity is usually calculated with
3. reference to the first layer and there is a reduction in the holding capacity for each
4. additional layer. This can be substantial - as much as an 11% reduction for the second
5. layer.
6. If the rated brake holding capacity of a split drum winch is not to be reduced, only one layer
7. should be permitted on the working drum.

The Direction of Reeling on the Winch Drum

1. On both single and split drum winches, the holding power of the brake is decreased
2. substantially if the mooring line is reeled on the winch drum in the wrong direction. Before
3. arrival at the berth, it is important to confirm that the mooring line is reeled so that its pull
4. will be against the fixed end of the brake strap, rather than the pinned end. Reeling in the
5. contrary direction can seriously reduce the brake holding capacity, in some cases by as
6. much as 50%. The correct reeling direction to assist the brake should be permanently
7. marked on the drum to avoid misunderstanding.
8. Winches fitted with disc brakes are not subject to this limitation.

The Application of the Brake Brake holding Power

Brakes must be adequately tightened to achieve the required holding capacity. (This is usually 60% of the line’s
Minimum Breaking Load (MBL). The use of hydraulic brake applicators or a torque wrench showing the degree of
torque applied is recommended. If brakes are applied manually, they should be checked for tightness.

The percentage of the minimum breaking load (MBL) of a new mooring rope or wire it carries, at which the winch brake is
designed to render. Winch brakes are normally designed to hold 80% of the line MBL and are set in service to hold 60% of
the mooring line MBL. Brake holding capacity may be expressed either in tones or as a percentage of the line MBL.

Securing Ropes on Bitts: After taking one round turn on the leading part of the bitt at least three 'figure of eight' turns
should be taken. The first 'round turn' should be as shown in Fig. The next three turns can be ordinary criss-cross turns.
Wire ropes, when made fast on bitts, the criss-crossing parts should be lashed at the centre between the bitts.

Securing more than one Rope on a Single Bollard: When putting the eyes of more than one mooring rope on to a
single bollard ashore, the eye of each rope should be rove, from below up-wards, through the eyes of all previous ropes
and then slipped over the bollard. In this way any rope may be cast off at any time without having to remove the upper
ones first.