Anomalies in Mooring (Thin) Lines: Causes, Risk Mitigations, and Real Time Consequences of Failure – A Comprehensive Review

Mooring (Thin) lines are fabricated of polyester ropes, steel wire ropes, and chains. These are considered the essential components which are used to secure offshore marine vessels and floating facilities by keeping them in a fixed place and resisting external loads. However, the failure of any mooring lines because of anomalies can cause severe consequences including financial losses, loss of life, and harm to the environment. Thus, it is essential to determine the anomalies in mooring lines beforehand to ascertain reliable and safe offshore mooring operations. This paper furnishes a comprehensive review of various types of anomalies in mooring lines with their underlying causes, and risk mitigation tactics. Furthermore, the types of mooring lines including polyester ropes, chain, and steel wire ropes have been discussed with their advantages and disadvantages. Additionally, the real-time consequences of failure in mooring lines are explored which occur due to the anomalies in the mooring lines including but not limited to environmental damage, vessel drift, and collision. In order to reduce the risks associated with mooring line anomalies, this review concludes by summarizing the major findings and emphasizing the significance of proactive monitoring and maintenance.