Lankhorst Ropes wins Seatralde 'Innovation in Ship Operations' award for its Tipto Winchline which reduces crew risk of being struck by a parted mooring rope.
A snapped mooring rope is, thankfully, a rare occurrence, but when it does happen the results can be devastating. Using its expertise in yarn production and rope construction, Lankhorst Ropes has developed the Tipto Winchline to provide a safer mooring rope.
Based on Lankhorst's Tipto yarn, the seven strand rope features a Tipto overbraided jacket to protect the rope from wear and tear during handling. Importantly, the jacket fulfils a vital safety function. If the rope breaks due to excessive load, the braided cover acts as a net, capturing the two parted ends. The jacket absorbs the generated energy from the broken rope, and thus reduces the effects of snap back.