Guidelines for the Purchasing and Testing of SPM Hawsers - Second Edition 2025

The second edition includes key purchaser information, such as rope size, rope performance and hawser assembly instructions. The packing of hawsers and rope dimensions are illustrated through detailed technical drawings. Each inspection process step is fully explained and supported by checklists and reports. The Appendices include new electronic checklists and forms which cover key definitions for rope design and quality assurance terminology.

This edition of the Guidelines for the Purchasing and Testing of SPM Hawsers has been rewritten by an OCIMF working group. Sections that were previously indicated by a letter are now indicated by a number. (Part A has become section 1, Part B has become section 2 and so on.) In section 1 the actions and expectations on both purchaser and manufacturer have been sorted to group them together for the purchaser and to group them together for the manufacturer.

The working group compiled a questionnaire that was sent to manufacturers through The Cordage Institute, an international association of rope, twine, and related manufacturers, their suppliers, and affiliated industries. The replies received were used to update the relevant parts of this 2nd edition.

New figures have been added to help visualise and clarify what is meant in the corresponding text and all formulas, while still valid, were recalculated.
Section 7 - Manufacturer?s Record Book is a new addition that describes the minimum level of information and guidance that the purchaser should expect to receive from the manufacturer about storage, operations, inspection and maintenance of a hawser throughout its lifecycle. Instructions about post-lifecycle testing should be included.

The checklists found in the previous edition have been restyled and have also been made available in electronic format.

It is important to note that the word 'shall' used in the previous edition of the guidelines has been replaced by 'should'. The purchaser, and in particular their purchasing department, should be made aware that when the procedures laid down and recommended in this edition are to be applied, this should be clearly communicated to the manufacturer.

Introduction

Contents

Purpose and scope

Glossary

Abbreviations

Bibliography

List of figures

Section one

General practices and procedures

1.1 General procedures

1.2 Purchasing and testing - process overview

1.3 Compliance with OCIMF Guidelines for the Purchasing and Testing of SPM Hawsers

1.4 OCIMF Compliance Certificate

1.5 Other practices

Section two

Procedure for specifying hawsers

2.1 General procedures

2.2 Rope size

2.3 Rope performance

2.4 Rope construction

2.5 Rope fibre material

2.6 Hawser assembly

2.7 Eyes and thimbles

2.8 Chafe protection

2.9 Auxiliary gear

2.10 Hawser length

2.11 Marking of hawsers

2.12 Packing of hawsers

Section three

Procedure for offering hawsers

3.1 General procedures

3.2 Rope size

3.3 Rope performance

3.4 Rope construction

3.5 Rope fibre material

3.6 Hawser assembly

3.7 Marking and packing

Section four

Production of hawsers

4.1 General procedures

4.2 Product design documentation

4.3 Rope fibre material quality

4.4 Material control

4.5 Material testing

4.6 Rope production

4.7 Splice quality

4.8 Hawser assembly, eyes, thimbles, chafe protection and auxiliary gear

4.9 Identification and labelling of rope

4.10 Packing

Section five

Inspection of finished hawsers

5.1 General procedures

5.2 Establishment of inspection criteria

5.3 Manufacturing quality

5.4 Application of reference load

5.5 Inspection of sample of rope section

5.6 Verification of rope strength

5.7 Fibre material identification testing

5.8 Inspection at reference load

5.9 Inspection of splices

5.10 Rope quality

5.11 Eyes, thimbles, chafe protection and auxiliary gear

5.12 Markings

5.13 Packing

Section six

Production of prototype ropes

6.1 General procedures

6.2 Intent of prototype testing

6.3 Inspection by Independent Inspector

6.4 Number of tests

6.5 Prototype rope description

6.6 Test machine

6.7 New Dry Breaking Strength Test

6.8 New Wet Breaking Strength Test

6.9 Breaking strength calculations

6.10 Cyclic Load Test

6.11 Elongation measurements and extension calculation

6.12 Auxiliary gear - reserve buoyancy test

6.13 Reporting of results

Section seven

Manufacturer?s Record Book

7.1 General

7.2 Detailed rope information

7.3 Requirements for hawser Residual Strength testing

Appendices

Appendix A: Forms

Form A OCIMF Guidelines for the Purchasing and Testing of SPM Hawsers Compliance Certificate

Form B Purchase Specification Form

Form C Offer of Hawser Form

Form D-1 Yarn Specification Form

Form D-2 Rope Quality Control Checklist

Form E Inspection Checklist and Report

Form F Prototype Test Checklist and Report

Appendix B: Basic yarn testing

B1 Yarn strength and elongation

B2 Yarn shrinkage and creep

B3 Yarn-on-yarn abrasion test

B4 Fibre material identification tests

Appendix C: Example calculations

C1 Introduction

C2 Rope Size Number (section 5.5.4)

C3 Verification of rope strength (section 5.6.4)

C4 Standard Deviation (section 6.9.3)

C5 Wet Strength Ratio (section 6.9.4)

C6 Rope Strength/Size Scale Power (section 6.9.5)

C7 Determination of strengths of other rope sizes (section 6.9.6)

C8 Determination of Rope/Yarn Strength Ratio (section 6.9.7)

C9 Determination of Thousand Cycle Load Level (section 6.10.8)

The Oil Companies International Marine Forum (OCIMF) is a voluntary association of oil companies with an interest in the shipment and terminalling of crude oil, oil products, petrochemicals and gas. OCIMF focuses exclusively on preventing harm to people and the environment by promoting best practice in the design, construction and operation of tankers, barges and offshore vessels and their interfaces with terminals. Learn more at: www.ocimf.org