MARINE GUIDANCE NOTE

MGN 106 (M+F)

NATURAL & SYNTHETIC FIBRE CORDAGE FOR LIFE­

SAVING APPLIANCES
Guidance to Shipowners, Masters, and Officers of Merchant Ships and Yachts; and to Owners,
Skippers and Crews of Fishing Vessels

This Note supersedes Merchant Shipping Notice No.M.1232

Summary
This Note advises all Shipowners, Masters, Officers and Seamen of required standards for natural
and synthetic fibre (polypropylene, polyester, polyamide) rope for life-saving appliances (LSA).

• Types of rope acceptable to the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA).

• Evidence from manufacturers’ required prior to acceptance of the rope.
• Detailed characteristics given in the Annex.

1. Natural and synthetic fibre ropes intended for 5. Guidance on inspection and care of synthetic
use with life-saving appliances should comply fibre ropes in use is included in Annex 2 to this
with the BSEN standards contained in Annex 1, Note.
which is acceptable to the Agency.

2. Before accepting a rope for use onboard, the MSPP2

master should sight a certificate of conformity for Maritime and Coastguard Agency
the rope. In addition, evidence showing that the Spring Place
rope is sufficiently protected and stabilized 105 Commercial Road
against UV degradation. SOUTHAMPTON
SO15 1EG
3. Responsibility for replacing worn, weathered
or damaged cordage at all times lies with the
master of the vessel. Tel: 01703 329184
Fax: 01703 329204
4. The attached Annex 1 “Cordage for LSA
Purposes” indicates the characteristics required April 1999
of ropes for various life-saving appliance uses
and the sizes considered appropriate. Unlike MS 70/17/0004
natural cordage the grip provided by different
types of synthetic fibre ropes ranges between a © Crown Copyright 1999
grip comparable with manila or sisal to little grip
at all. The type of synthetic fibre ropes must
therefore be carefully chosen to meet differing
grip requirements.

An executive agency of the Department of the

Environment, Transport and the Regions

 Annex 1

CORDAGE FOR LIFE-SAVING APPLIANCES

Note: M denotes Manila rope, complying with BS EN 698: 1995-Fibre Ropes for General Service.

S denotes Sisal rope, complying with BS EN 698: 1995-Fibre Ropes for General Service.

Pa denotes Polyamide (nylon) rope, complying with BS EN 696: 1995-Fibre Ropes for General
Service (Polyamide).

Pe denotes Polyester rope, complying with BS EN 697: 1995-Fibre Ropes for General Service
(Polyester).

Pp denotes Polypropylene rope, complying with BS EN 699: 1995-Fibre Ropes for General Service
(Polypropylene).

All ropes to comply with the requirements of BS EN 701: 1995 – Fibre Ropes for General
Service General Specification

Where polypropylene is suggested and the grip is required to be similar to that of manila, then
only staplespun polypropylene is suitable.

Application Type Grip Minimum Size of

Cordage
Diameter in
millimetres
M or S Pa, Pe
or Pp

Lifeboat and gunwale grablines M S Pa Pe Pp Not critical 16 mm 16 mm

Buoyant apparatus grablines M S Pp Not critical 14 mm 14 mm
Lifeboat keel grablines M S Pa Pe Pp Not critical 16 mm 16 mm
(should be knotted)
Buoyant heaving lines Cotton or Pp As Manila 8 mm 8 mm
Lifeboat boarding ladders M S Pa Pe Pp As Manila 16 mm 16 mm
Overside ladders for lifeboat M Pa Pe Pp As Manila 20 mm 20 mm
or liferaft embarkation
Lifebuoy grablines M S Pp Not critical 10 mm 10 mm
unkinkable
Lifebuoy lines Buoyant Cotton As Manila 8 mm 8 mm
Pp
Lifelines from davit spans M Pe Pp As Manila 20 mm 24 mm
Boats’ painters M S Pa Pe Pp As Manila 20 mm 24 mm
boat under 8 m
8 m and under 24 mm 28 mm
9m
9 m boat and over 28 mm 32 mm
Buoyant apparatus painters M S Pp As Manila
Mass less than 140kg 16 mm 16 mm
Mass 140kg and over 20 mm 20 mm

Application Type Grip Minimum Size of Cordage

Diameter in millimetres
M or S Pa,Pe or Pp

Sea anchor for open lifeboats M S Pa Pe Pp As Manila Hawser: 20 mm 20 mm

of 6 metres and under
Tripping Line: 12 mm
12 mm
Open lifeboats over 6 metres Hawser: 24 mm 24 mm
Tripping Line: 16 mm
16 mm
Open lifeboat Sails: M S Pe Pp As Manila As current As for
Halyards, sheets and roping practice natural fibre
cordage
Bowsing tackle Pe Pp should be of Manila or Polypropylene of a type acceptable to the MCA
and having a grip comparable with Manila; the type and size of tackle and size
cordage should be as follows:
Fully laden mass of boat Gun tackle (two single blocks) 20 mm
Under 8 tonnes
8 tonnes and under 10 tonnes Gun tackle (two single blocks) 24 mm
10 tonnes and under 12 tonnes Luff purchase (one double and single block) 18 mm
12 tonnes and under 15 tonnes Two fold purchase (two double blocks) 20 mm
15 tonnes and under 20 tonnes Three/two fold purchase (one treble and one 20 mm
double block)
Boats’ falls Manila, durable, unkinkable, firm laid and pliable. Breaking load to be at least
6 x maximum load when hoisting and lowering. To be not less than 20 mm.
To be able to pass freely a hole 10 mm larger than the nominal diameter of the
rope. Man made fibre cordage is not generally accepted.

 Annex 2

THE INSPECTION AND CARE OF POLYAMIDE (NYLON), POLYESTER

AND POLYPROPYLENE FILAMENT ROPES IN USE

GENERAL unavoidable and harmless if not extensive.

Polyamide (nylon), polyester and polypropylene
Ropes made from any material are liable to wear filament ropes have a very good abrasion
and to mechanical damage, and can be weakened resistance.
to some extent by various agencies such as
chemicals, heat and light. Local abrasion
Local abrasion, as distinct from general wear,
Regular inspection is essential to ensure that the may be caused by the passage of the rope over
ropes are still serviceable. sharp edges while under tension and may cause
serious loss of strength. Slight damage to the
It is also emphasized that no matter what agent outer fibres and an occasional torn yarn may be
has weakened the rope the effect will be more considered harmless but serious reduction in the
serious on the small sizes than on the larger sizes cross-sectional area of one strand or somewhat
of rope. Consideration should, therefore, be less serious damage to more than one strand
given to the relationship of the surface area of the should merit rejection. Protection at points where
rope and the rope cross section. Examinations of excessive abrasion may occur should be
about 300 mm at a time may prove to be considered.
convenient, the rope being turned to reveal all
sides before continuing. At the same intervals the Cuts, Contusions, etc.
strands should be untwisted slightly to allow Cuts, contusions, etc. or careless use may cause
examination between the strands. internal as well as external damage. This may be
indicated by local rupturing or loosening of the
To define a standard of acceptance or rejection is yarns or strands.
much more difficult than to describe the method
of inspection. There can be no well defined Internal wear
boundary between ropes which are safe and Internal wear caused by repeated flexing of the
those which are not because this depends on the rope, particularly when wet, and by particles of
stresses placed on a rope in an emergency. In grit which have been picked up, may be
practice, the decision whether to continue to use indicated by excessive looseness of the strands
a rope or discard it should be based on an and yarns or the presence of powdered fibre.
assessment of the general condition of the rope.
Many of the conditions which will guide the Repeated loading
examiner cannot be exactly described, but can The resistance of polyamide (nylon) or
only be stated in general terms. polypropylene filament rope to damage due to
repeated loading is good but a permanent
If after examination, there is any doubt about the elongation may occur so that the extension
safety of the rope, it should be withdrawn from available in an emergency is reduced.
service. It is again emphasized that the effects of
wear and mechanical damage are relatively If the original length of the rope is known
greater on thinner ropes which, therefore, require exactly, a check measurement made under
more stringent standards of acceptance. exactly the same conditions will indicate the total
extension of the rope but may not reveal local
PHYSICAL CAUSES OF DAMAGE extension of parts of the rope. Measurement of
the distance between regularly spaced indelible
General external wear markers on the rope may help to reveal severe
External wear due to dragging over rough local permanent elongation which may cause
surfaces causes surface chafing or filamentation. breakdown on subsequent loading.
This is the most readily noticeable cause of
weakness, particularly if a new rope is available EXTERNAL CAUSES OF DAMAGE
for comparison. In the extreme, the strands
become so worn that their outer faces are Heat
flattened and the outer yarns are severed. In Heat may, in extreme cases, cause fusing. Any
ordinary use some disarrangement or breakage signs of this should obviously merit rejection, but
of the fibres on the outside of the rope is a rope may be damaged by heat without any

such obvious warning. The best safeguard is mineral acids cause rapid weakening. It is
proper care in use and storage. A rope should advisable, therefore, to avoid immersion in acid
never be dried in front of a fire or stored near a solutions, either cold or hot.
stove or other source of heat.
Polyamide (nylon) filament is unaffected by
Surging of a polypropylene or polyethylene rope alkalis at normal temperatures and by many oils
under tension can cause sufficient frictional heat although it swells in contact with certain organic
at the contact surfaces to result in the fusing of solvents. Exposure to fumes, spray or mist of
the surface of the rope. This can be minimized by acids or to organic solvents should be avoided,
not applying more turns of the rope around the but if contamination is suspected, the rope should
winch, drum or capstan than are necessary to
be washed out well in cold water. If there is any
obtain satisfactory hauling.
doubt after subsequent careful inspection, the
rope should be discarded.
The number of turns required around a winch
will vary to some extent according to operating
conditions and may be different for each of the Polyamide (nylon) ropes absorb a limited amount
different types of polypropylene rope. The of water when wetted and may loose a small
o o
melting point of polypropylene is 160 C to 170 C proportion of their strength while wet.
o
while the softening point is around 150 C. The
values for polyethylene are somewhat lower Polyester ropes
These temperatures are quite quickly produced Chemical attack of a sufficient degree may be
when a rope is surged on a winch or capstan. indicated by local weakening or softening of the
rope so that surface fibres can be plucked or
Mildew rubbed off as a powder in extreme cases. The
Mildew does not attack polyamide (nylon), chemical resistance of polyester filament is
polyester and polypropylene ropes. generally extremely good, but hot solutions of
strong alkalis progressively dissolve the fibre,
Strong sunlight causing gradual loss in mass and a corresponding
Strong sunlight causes weakening of rope fibres, fall in breaking load. It is advisable, therefore, to
but is unlikely to penetrate beneath the surface. avoid exposure to alkaline conditions. Resistance
Unnecessary exposure should be avoided. to acids and particularly to sulphuric acid is good,
although the concentration should not be allowed
Solar degradation should be checked by rubbing to exceed about 80%.
the surface of the rope with the thumb nail. If
degradation has taken place the surface material Thus, even dilute solutions of sulphuric acid
will come off as powder. should not be allowed to dry on a rope. If any
contamination is suspected, the rope should be
In addition, the surface of the rope will feel dry, washed out well in cold water. If there is any
harsh and resinous. doubt after subsequent careful inspection, the
rope should be discarded.
CHEMICAL CAUSES OF DAMAGE
Resistance to hydrocarbon oils and common
General organic solvents is good, although polyester
The variety of possible chemical contaminants of filament may swell in certain chlorinated
rope is very wide and the information given in solvents. Attack by concentrated phenols is severe
above is only a general guide. In cases of and contact should be avoided.
uncertainty on the nature of the contaminant and
the remedy to be adopted an expert should be Polypropylene ropes
consulted. Attack may be more severe if some Polypropylene ropes are unaffected at normal
drying out occurs. temperatures by acid or alkalis but are attacked
by some organic solvents such as white spirit,
Polyamide (nylon) ropes xylene and meta-cresol.
Chemical attack of a sufficient degree may be
indicated by local weakening or softening of the Rope contact with wet paint, coal tar or paint
rope so that surface fibres can be plucked or stripping preparations should be avoided.
rubbed off as a powder in extreme cases. The
chemical resistance of polyamide (nylon) filament
is in general extremely good, but solutions of