As marine contractors working in the offshore oil and gas industry contend with ever-deeper waters, lifting operations have become ever more complex and vital. Deepwater subsea lifting increasingly involves fiber ropes, often because of their relative lightness. They may be short lifting slings or long running rigging which passes through sheaves and is stored on winch drums. The International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) established an international Rope Forum in the first half of 2010 to address rope-related issues. Now the Forum has established a sub workgroup to look at the subject of fiber ropes. The workgroup has now identified members and will be meeting for the first time early in 2011.
“The establishment of the fiber rope sub workgroup was just one of the topics discussed at the second meeting of the IMCA Rope Forum in early November,” explained IMCA’s Technical Director, Jane Bugler. “Other topics included the need for guidance documents on Flemish eye and socket terminations. The interest in the Rope Forum continues to grow and the next meeting has been arranged for February 2011 in Aberdeen. IMCA members and non-members are encouraged to participate in this lively and active event. If anyone would like further information on the on the activities of the Rope Forum they should contact my colleague Paul Bayliss at IMCA.”