High Modulus News

Phillystran has been awarded a five year contract to supply mooring lines to the US Navy. The new contract follows the successful completion of a five year contract in which Phillystran supplied over 1 million feet of Aramid mooring lines to US Navy ships.Part of the WireCo WorldGroup, Phillystran has worked with the US Navy and US Coastguard for over 40 years, developing and supplying ropes that set the benchmark for fiber rope performance and innovation. Phillystran ropes are NAVSEA approved for lifelines…

Strength, Safety and Sustainability are at the heart of this Homeland Security stakeholder’s mission set.For over 30 years, high performance fiber rope manufacturer Phillystran has worked with the U.S. Coast Guard to supply mooring and towing lines. As innovations in fiber rope technology have enabled lighter and stronger ropes, the Coast Guard has not been slow to take advantage of these and other developments.In step with most maritime stakeholders, NAVSEA approved fiber ropes are widely used by the U.S. Coast Guard.

The use of High Modulus Synthetic Fiber (HMSF) mooring lines, including Ultra High Molecular Weight Polyethylene (UHMWP) lines continue to make one of the most dangerous evolutions aboard ships safer. A 2017 UK Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) safety report, however, highlights critical areas where additional engineering review and crew training is required to help ensure overall crew safety. MAIB Report no: 13/2017 dated June 2017, addresses the finding from the March 2…

January of 2017 saw the retirement of one of the veterans of the Samson family. Tony Bon, CEO through 2015 retired as of December 31, 2016. Bon shares his impressions of the time he’s been with Samson and the high points of both the company and the industry it serves. In the Navy they have an expression to describe a captain that moves up through the ranks: “He came up through the hawse pipes.” Bon’s journey to the corner office at Samson is a similar story. In 1974, after leaving Berklee College of Music in Boston, Bon needed a job.

The largest and most complex maritime salvage operation ever carried out was concluded this summer. The Costa Concordia parbuckling operation on the rocks of the Italian island of Giglio has been a success in many ways—not least for the objective to retrieve in one piece, such a massive vessel (117,000 tons) with minimal damage to the delicate marine environment on which it foundered. High performance ropes with Dyneema played a key role in the operation. DSM Dyneema has been supplying UHMWPE fiber, branded as Dyneema  for ropes used in tug and salvage operations for almost 15 years.

Heavy lift operations offshore are an awe-inspiring feat, but an operation that requires consistent monitoring of man, machine and procedure to ensure they are conducted in as an efficient and safe manner as possible. Due to a growing focus on safety related to subsea lifting operations, DNV GL recently established a Joint Industry Project (JIP) to develop practical methods for reducing the risks and lifetime cost of steel wire ropes for subsea lifting applications, using an integrated systems approach.

Offshore mooring rope specialist, Lankhorst Ropes was awarded a contract by NOV Flexibles, Denmark, to supply Lankoforce riser tethers for the Knarr field development, located in 410m of water in the North Tampen region of the Norwegian Sector of the Northern North Sea. The riser tethers will be the first to use Dyneema DM 20, a high modulus polyethylene (HMPE) rope, for permanent subsea anchoring of flexible risers. Lankoforce riser tethers are designed to hold risers and umbilicals in position…

Italian company Rosetti Marino tests its new 220-mt bollard pull Anchor Handling, Tug, Supply & Service Vessel (AHTS). Since 2010, bollard pull testing has become standard practice for newly built steel tugs. The test provides a good measure of the tugboat’s maximum pulling load. Contacted to supply a bollard pull test rope at short notice, Lankhorst supplied a 88 mm diameter, 300 m LankoForce rope made from high modulus polyethylene (HMPE) Dyneema. The rope has an actual breaking load of 4806 kN (490 mT) (spliced). Based in Ravenna, Italy, Rosetti Marino specialises in PSV's designed to provide assistance to offshore oil platforms and safely transport equipment and material to and from the platforms, even those located in very rough waters, such as the Baltic Sea and the North Sea.

Rosetti Marino, a turnkey builder of oil platforms and service vessels for the offshore sector, has chosen a Lankhorst LankoForce rope for bollard pull testing for its new platform supply vessels (PSV) and anchor handling tugs. The rope was used recently to test the company's most powerful tug-to-date with a bollard pull of 220 metric tons. Based in Ravenna, Italy, Rosetti Marino specializes in PSVs designed to provide assistance to offshore oil platforms and safely transport equipment and material to and from the platforms—even those located in very rough waters…

Wally-built yacht 'Better Place' sails the Mediterranean with a Hall Spars 67.5 m (221.4 ft) high modulus carbon mast. Wally, a leading builder of innovative state-of-the-art sail and power yachts, has successfully launched the stunning Bugatti blue colored 50-meter sailing yacht Better Place, the world’s largest sloop in carbon fiber, developed on the lines of Tripp Design with the interiors by Wetzels Brown Partners, and mast and boom by Hall Spars. This Hall Spars Rig (mast and boom) weighs 42 tons.

Designed by Sauter Carbon Offset and built by Ned Ship, the 66m Emax E-Volution is, according to the designer, a culmination of the best the yachting world, a vessel with a maximum speed of 28 knots and an unlimited "Zero Carbon" cruising range at 14 knots. Highlights of the design include. - 2MWs of ZF Hybrid Power supplied by MTU 2000 series Tier 4i engines, the cleanest marine diesel engines on the market. - An additional 3MWs of energy harnessed from sustainable sources is stored and employed as ballast in a lithium ion UPS.

Measurement Technology NW (MTNW) implemented its running line tensiometer (RLT) technology with a Samson synthetic rope in an offshore mooring monitoring project engineered by Delmar Systems. This implementation is MTNW’s first use of tension measurement technology with 2”+ synthetic ropes. Recently, Delmar Systems was contracted to moor an offshore supply vessel (OSV) to a major offshore platform in the Gulf of Mexico. The OSV is being used as a support vessel while dive operations are conducted.

Incat Crowther is pleased to announce its involvement in a new motor yacht project. The Curvelle quaranta is a 33m Catamaran yacht currently under construction that has brought together a team of world leading design and engineering firms to create a modern, flexible and efficient yacht concept. Logos Marine is managing and coordinating all aspects of the build at the Istanbul yard, whilst Lila-Lou of London is responsible for exterior styling and interior design. Composite engineering will be performed by SP High Modulus.

Leading deepwater rope manufacturer, Lankhorst Ropes, has secured the first-ever, worldwide order for Dyneema synthetic mooring rope for deepwater MODU (Mobile Operating Drilling Unit) projects from Brazilian oil and gas producer Petroleo Brasileiro SA (Petrobras). Gama 98 is a rope construction developed by Lankhorst Ropes specifically for deepwater mooring, and used on a number of major deepwater projects in the Gulf of Mexico. The rope will feature up to 12 Dyneema SK78 yarn sub-ropes. Developed by DSM, Dyneema SK78 is a high modulus polyethylene fibre.

Samson, provider of performance cordage, and Endenburg BV, Samson’s Master Fabricating Distributor in Europe, has provided Seaway Heavy Lifting (SHL) with the first very large diameter synthetic rope slings certified by Lloyd’s for offshore installations. The two lifting systems, made from 144-mm diameter AmSteel-Blue, Samson’s rope made with 100% Dyneema high modulus polyethylene fiber, are currently assisting in the installation of 140 turbine foundation monopiles as a part of the North Sea’s Greater Gabbard project, the largest wind farm currently under construction. SHL anticipated that synthetic slings would reduce potential damage to the monopiles during their transfer from the supply barge to the deck of the installation vessel in rough seas.

Samson, specialist in performance cordage, is launching Samson’s newest 12-strand stringing line, incorporating Innegra-S fiber. ML-12 is Samson’s newest 12-strand stringing line, blending Innegra-S, a high modulus polypropylene (HMPP), and Dyneema, a high modulus polyethylene (HMPE). This blend of fibers gives ML-12 performance characteristics between traditional polyesters and high-performance 100% Dyneema stringing lines. “We knew we had to consider fibers that were unfamiliar to the rope industry in order to achieve our goals,” said vice president of research and development, Dr. Rafael Chou. “Historically, if you wanted a fiber that would out perform traditional nylon and polyester, you had to leap into high-performance fibers like HMPE, LCP, and aramids.

Samson, specialist in performance cordage, has furthered its commitment to research and development by hiring Greg Mozsgai, Senior R&D Engineer; Mark Pederson, R&D Engineer; and Dylan Dundas, Sales Support Technician. Greg Mozsgai comes to Samson with an MS degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (U of I) and a BS degree in Engineering Science from Trinity University, San Antonio, Texas. His diverse experience includes microelectromechanical-systems (MEMS) design and fabrication. Most recently, he worked for a start up spun out of the U of I, manufacturing small fuel cells as battery replacements for portable electronics in both the consumer and industrial/military markets. As Senior R&D Engineer, Mr.

The Mirabella V mast is loaded on a barge to leave the VT Halmatic Portchester shipyard. VT Halmatic completed production of the world’s tallest yacht mast, which will be fitted on the Mirabella V under construction by parent company VT Shipbuilding. The 90 m hollow carbon epoxy mast, which has a maximum cross section of 1.6 m and structural thickness of up to 40mm, will support some 3,400 sq. m. of sail. Having been loaded onto a barge at VT Halmatic’s Portchester shipyard, the mast was transported to Southampton Docks where the rigging will be dressed and the mast will be stepped before fitting out is completed. The mast has been manufactured in halves, with the back half comprising two sections and the front half divided into three sections.

The 10.5 ft. Oceanus 3.20VSC from AB Inflatables is a sporty RIB with a deep V hull construction large, 17-in.-diameter tubes, and a rounded, European-style console and seat. In fact, the company has redesigned each boat in the Oceanus line to be even more attractive and distinctive. The tubes are now a softer gray color and have a sportier, more recognizable stripe to help identify the brand. To add to the fresh new look, nylon lifelines have been replaced with long-lasting, dark Grey hypalon fabric handles, carefully placed for ease of grip and functionality. The boat has a 5.5 ft. overall beam and 7.5 ft. interior length. Suggested retail price of the Oceanus 3.20VSC is $5,995, without engine.

AB Inflatables offers its Profile line of aluminum hull RIBs. The rugged, 3.28-mil hulls are lighter than comparable fiberglass hulls and are perfectly suited for operating in lakes and rivers or along rocky coastlines. In these environments, the aluminum bottoms also help resist abrasions from coral and sandy beaches. An extra air chamber between the hull and the floor keeps the Profile models buoyant even when flooded. The large-diameter tubes of the boats are made from 1670 decitex Hypalon/Neoprene fabric. They include wear patches along the top and a heavy-duty rubrail. Decks are non-skid and sealed to the hull with epoxy. The A12…

With the deepest V available, the Oceanus 8.50VST from AB Inflatables is a rugged craft providing a safe, comfortable ride for several hours.The extra-deep V hull and non-submerged tubes provide the boat with plenty of stability, while preventing unwanted friction and spray for smooth, dry operation in calm or choppy waters. The boat features upholstered seating, ample deck space to install ice coolers or additional seating, a smartly designed console with easy-to-reach controls and abundant storage lockers to keep fishing gear secure. In addition, the 8.50VST offers the flexibility to be customized to buyers' needs. Weighing 2,860 lbs., the Oceanus 8.50VST has an overall length of 28 ft. (8.5 m) and a 12-ft. (3.6 m) beam.

295-ft. (89.9-m) Mast to support 2,900 sq. Halmatic is manufacturing a 295-ft. (90-m) mast that will be fitted on the world's biggest sloop, currently under construction by its parent Vosper Thornycroft Shipbuilding, part of the VT Group. Mirabella V will be around 246 ft. (75 m) long and its mast will support some 2,900 sq. m. of sail. Halmatic will use its long-standing expertise in composite manufacture to produce the hollow carbon epoxy mast, which will have a maximum cross section of 1.5 m and structural thickness of up to 32 mm. The mast is manufactured in halves, with one comprising a complete length and the other divided into three sections. Framework for the mold will be made from MDF cut on VT's advanced laser cutting and profiling machine.

The High Performance Yacht Design Conference will once again be held in Auckland, from February 14-16, 2006. The conference will look at new thinking and technical developments that are driving current changes in the field of yacht design. High Modulus, a Gold sponsor, will be hosting a dinner for all delegates on the final evening of the event. In addition, High Modulus will present two papers at the conference: Michael Eaglen will co-present a paper about the design process for the Wally 130 sailing yacht and Susan Lake will co-present a paper on designing composite structures for slamming loads.