TYPES OF NATURAL FIBRE ROPES

MANILA

As one of the strongest sources for natural rope, this classic material was the most common
one to be used before the advent of synthetics. Manila rope is often referred to as “hemp
rope,” but the fibers actually come from the leaves of the abaca plant.

Manilla is obtained from the abaca (wild banana) plant, which grows to about 9 m (30 ft) in
height, largely in the Philippine Islands, and is exported via the port of Manila, from which it
acquires its name. Manilla rope is not as durable as hemp, but is most certainly more pliable
and softer. It is gold-brown in colour, and never tarred. Unfortunately it swells when wet, but
despite this it is considered by far the strongest natural rope made.

It is very expensive and its availability will depend on the political climate. Used extensively
where the safety of life is concerned, Grade 1 manilla is the best that you can get, but
because of scarcity, and, of course, the cost to shipping companies, it is a rare feature aboard
merchant vessels. An experienced seafarer likes manilla, because it is the best. There are
many so-called grades of manilla on the market, such as sisal mixed with manilla, which are
not quite the same to a professional. When you need reliability with a natural fibre, this is the
one to use. Manilla is an excellent fibre for the manufacture of towing hawsers, providing
good spring and stretch facilities. It is not generally used for running rigging because it
swells and expands, often jamming in the block.
HEMP

Hemp is obtained from the stem of the plant Cannabis sativa, which yields flax for the
production of canvas.(The word canvas is derived from the Latin ‘cannabis’, which means
hemp.) This was accepted as the best rope in the marine industry from the early developing
days of sail. Cannabis sativa is cultivated in many parts of the world – New Zealand, Russia,
China, India, and the USA, for instance – but has been replaced mainly by man-made fibre
ropes and manilla.

The hemp fibres are a light cream in colour when supplied to the rope manufacturer. They
have a silky texture and are of a very fine nature: hence the extra flexibility of the hemp rope
compared to a sisal or manilla. Most hemp ropes treated in manufacture produce a tarred,
brown rope which is hard and hairy to the touch.

Its strength will be dependent on the place of production. Italian hemp ropes are now
considered to be the best quality, having about 20 per cent greater strength than a high grade
manilla. However, quality differs considerably, and hemp ropes are rarely seen at sea today
except in the form of small stuff, e.g. lead line – cable laid hemp, sea anchor hawsers, bolt
rope etc.

The advantage of hemp rope is that it is impervious to water and does not shrink or swell
when wet. For this reason it was extensively used for the rigging of sailing vessels, and
roping sails. When used for running rigging, it was preferred to manilla or sisal because it
did not swell up and foul the blocks. However, for vessels navigating in cold climates, hemp
ropes do have a tendency to freeze up. Not all hemp ropes are supplied tarred, so that the
weight will vary, together with the strength.
COTTON

Cotton rope is smooth and soft and is great for practicing your knot tying or to use as a
clothes line. Beyond that, it’s not a great rope material, as it’s not very strong or durable and
rots quickly in the elements.

SISAL

You’ve seen sisal if you’ve bought some twine. It’s a coarse, strong, durable fibre. While it’s
primarily used to make twine (considered a durable thread because of its small diameter).
Obtained from the leaves of the plant Agave sisalana, a large plant of the cactus family, sisal
comes largely from Russia, America, East Africa, Italy, Java and countries in Central
America. The plant favours a temperate or tropical climate. The sisal rope is hairy, coarse
and white. It is not as pliable as manilla nor as strong. When wet, it swells up more than
manilla, as the water is absorbed more quickly, and it becomes slippery to handle. It is
extensively used in the shipping industry either in its own state or mixed with manilla fibres,
a good sisal being similar in strength to a low grade manilla. The cost of production is better
suited to the shipowner, and the supply is more reliable than manilla. For handling purposes,
the fibres have a brittle texture, and continued handling without gloves could cause the hands
to become sore and uncomfortable. It is generally used for mooring ropes and most other
general duties aboard, where risk to life is not in question. Where the rope is expected to be
continually immersed in water, it may be coated with a water repellent. This is a chemical
coating, usually tar based, which prevents rotting and mildew.

JUTE

Jute is the second-largest fibre crop after cotton. It’s inexpensive and fairly strong, but rots
easily and loses its strength when wet. It is produced from flowering plants in the genus
Corchorus, which is in the mallow family Malvaceae. The primary source of the fibre is
Corchorus olitorius, but it is considered inferior to Corchorus capsularis. "Jute" is the name
of the plant or fibre used to make burlap, hessian or gunny cloth.
Jute fibre is 100% bio-degradable and recyclable and thus environmentally friendly, has low
pesticide and fertilizer needs. It is a natural fibre with golden and silky shine and hence
called the golden fibre.
It is the cheapest vegetable fibre procured from the bast or skin of the plant's stem.
It is the second most important vegetable fibre after cotton, in terms of usage, global
consumption, production, and availability.
It has high tensile strength, low extensibility, and ensures better breathability of fabrics.
Therefore, jute is very suitable in agricultural commodity bulk packaging.
It helps to make top quality industrial yarn, fabric, net, and sacks. It is one of the most
versatile natural fibres that has been used in raw materials for packaging, textiles, non-
textile, construction, and agricultural sectors. Bulking of yarn results in a reduced breaking
tenacity and an increased breaking extensibility when blended as a ternary blend.
 Advantages of jute include good insulating and antistatic properties, as well as having low
thermal conductivity and a moderate moisture regain. Other advantages of jute include
acoustic insulating properties and manufacture with no skin irritations.
Jute can be blended with other fibres, both synthetic and natural, and accepts cellulosic
dye classes such as natural, basic, vat, sulfur, reactive, and pigment dyes. As demand for
natural comfort fibres increases, demand for jute and other natural fibers that can be blended
with cotton will increase.
Some noted disadvantages include poor drapability and crease resistance, brittleness, fibre
shedding, and yellowing in sunlight. However, preparation of fabrics with castor oil
lubricants result in less yellowing and less fabric weight loss, as well as increased dyeing
brilliance. Jute has a decreased strength when wet, and also becomes subject to microbial
attack in humid climates. Jute can be processed with an enzyme to reduce some of its
brittleness and stiffness. Once treated with an enzyme, jute shows an affinity to readily
accept natural dyes, which can be made from marigold flower extract. In one attempt to dye
jute fabric with this extract, bleached fabric was mordanted with ferrous sulphate, increasing
the fabric's dye uptake value. Jute also responds well to reactive dyeing. This process is used
for bright and fast coloured value-added diversified products made from jute.

COIR
Sometimes referred to as grass line, coir is obtained from
the fibres of coconut husks. It is mainly exported from Sri
Lanka (formerly Ceylon) and ports in India. It is a very
rough, coarse and hairy rope, with only about one quarter
the strength of a hemp rope. However, it is very light and
floats, possessing great elasticity. It is often used as a
towing warp or mooring spring, because of its buoyant and
elastic properties. The coir fibres are short, brittle and thick.
These features produce a stiff non-flexible rope, difficult to manage. Consequently, they are
not popular with seafarers. When used for mooring purposes, they often have a steel wire
pennant attached, and the whole is known as a coir spring. These are regularly encountered
where heavy swells are common, often being run from the shore, as a permanent mooring
picked up by the ship on berthing. This rope is never tarred, as this would weaken the fibres
considerably. If the rope becomes wet when in use, it should be dried before being stowed
away. The coir fibres are found aboard many vessels in the form of coir door mats.
Sometimes referred to as grass line, coir is obtained from the fibres of coconut husks. It is
mainly exported from Sri Lanka (formerly Ceylon) and ports in India. It is a very rough,
coarse and hairy rope, with only about one quarter the strength of a hemp rope. However, it
is very light and floats, possessing great elasticity. It is often used as a towing warp or
mooring spring, because of its buoyant and elastic properties. The coir fibres are short, brittle
and thick. These features produce a stiff non-flexible rope, difficult to manage.
Consequently, they are not popular with seafarers. When used for mooring purposes, they
often have a steel wire pennant attached, and the whole is known as a coir spring. These are
regularly encountered where heavy swells are common, often being run from the shore ,as a
permanent mooring picked up by the ship on berthing. This rope is never tarred, as this
would weaken the fibres considerably. If the rope becomes wet when in use, it should be
dried before being stowed away. The coir fibres are found aboard many vessels in the form
of coir door mats.