Safe mooring

Ships in operation – class and regulatory considerations

The amended SOLAS Regulation II-1/3-8, Paragraph 9 refers to “Guidelines for inspection and maintenance of mooring equipment including lines” (MSC.1/Circ.1620) and has a retroactive effect on ships in operation (all vessels) from 1 January 2024.  

A regime for the inspection, maintenance and replacement of mooring equipment to be introduced is needed, including:

• Procedures for mooring operations and the inspection and maintenance of mooring equipment, including mooring lines
• Procedures for the identification and control of mooring lines to facilitate inspection and maintenance, and the subsequent replacement of mooring lines as needed Periodic inspection of mooring equipment, including lines, as part of the on-board maintenance plan or management system
• Periodic inspection of mooring equipment, including lines, as part of the on-board maintenance plan or management system.

The requirements for the inspection, maintenance and replacement of mooring equipment are mainly relevant for shipowners and operators. 

The following is stated in MSC1/Circ.1620: “The purpose of these Guidelines is to provide recommendations and guidance for maintenance and in-service inspections of mooring equipment including lines and tails, criteria for identifying worn-out lines and tails for removal from service before failure, and criteria for selection of replacement mooring lines and tails.”

For DNV customers, and acting as a Recognized Organization (RO), DNV may offer a voluntary Statement of Compliance with MSC.1/Circ.1620 before entry into force on 1 January 2024. DNV customers can also easily access this information on the vessel portal under the tab “Compliance Planner”, where all upcoming statutory requirements are listed.

The SOLAS Regulation II-1/3-8 was amended in November 2020, and it should be noted that there is still ongoing work regarding survey requirements and how compliance with the amended SOLAS Regulation II-1/3-8 shall be checked. DNV will keep customers updated on the development accordingly and on safe mooring in general.

DNV's advisory experts can additionally provide customized support to daily mooring operations. Please see the Services tab.