Section
2 General guidelines on inspection of mooring system components
2.1 Anchor inspection
2.1.1 The anchor head, flukes and shank are to be examined for damage,
including cracks or bending. The anchor shackle pin should be examined and renewed
if excessively worn or bent. Moveable flukes should be free to rotate.
2.1.2 Bent flakes or shank should be heated and jacked in place according to an
approved procedure, followed by Magnetic Particle Inspection.
2.2 Anchor swivels
2.2.1 Although swivels are no longer in common use, anchors have been lost due
to corrosion of the threads engaging the swivel nut. Swivel nut threads should be
carefully examined and if significant corrosion is found, the swivel should be
removed or replaced.
2.3 Chain inspection criteria
2.3.1 This sub-Section applies only to ‘Offshore’ or ‘Rig Quality’ chains with
studs secured by one of the following means:
- Mechanically locked in way of the link's flash-butt weld and
fillet welded on other end (IACS R3 chain for example); or
- Studs mechanically locked in place on both ends (IACS R4 chain
for example).
Other types of chain will require special consideration.
2.3.2 The service environment of offshore mooring chain is more severe than
the service environment for conventional ship anchoring chain. Offshore chain is
exposed to service loads for a much longer period of time. The long-term exposure to
cyclic loadings in sea-water magnifies the detrimental effect of geometric and
metallurgical imperfections on fatigue life. Moreover, the increased number of links
in offshore chains renders the chain more susceptible to failure from a statistical
standpoint.
2.3.3 Due to the effect of notches, e.g., the stud footprint, higher strength
steels such as that used for IACS R4 chain have a lower ratio of fatigue strength to
static tensile strength than typical lower strength steel such as used for IACS R3
chain.
2.3.4 Since chain link diameter loss can be due to abrasion and corrosion,
diameter measurements should be taken in the curved or bend region of the link and
any area with excessive wear or gouging. Two diameter measurements should be taken
90 degrees apart. Particular attention should be given to the shoulder areas which
normally contact the windlass or fairlead pockets.
Links should be rejected if the minimum crosssectional area is less than
the minimum Rule chain size plus a margin for corrosion and wear between surveys,
see Pt 3, Ch 10, 8.2 Corrosion and wear. If repair is permitted it should be done
by qualified personnel using an approved procedure.
NOTE
WELD REPAIR IS NOT PERMITTED ON IACS R4 CHAIN (see B2.3.6).
Two diameter measurements should be taken 90 degrees apart.
2.3.5 Since studs prevent knots or twist problems during chain handling and
support the sides of the links under load to reduce stretching and bending stresses,
missing studs are not acceptable. Links with missing studs should be removed or the
studs should be refitted using an approved procedure.
2.3.6 Where chain studs are secured by fillet welds on one end, the stud is
likely to fall out if a stud is loose or the weld is cracked. Any axial or lateral
movement is unacceptable and the link must be repaired or replaced.
Links with studs fillet welded on the flash-butt weld end of the stud are
unacceptable.
Rejection of links with gaps exceeding 3 mm between the stud and the
link at the flash-butt weld end of the stud should be considered. Closing the gap by
renewing the fillet weld may be considered but see the note in B2.3.8.
2.3.7 Field repair of cracked welds should be avoided if at all possible.
Welding must be performed by qualified personnel using approved procedures:
NOTE
WELD REPAIR IS NOT PERMITTED IN IACS R4 CHAIN.
Chains with studs mechanically locked in place on both ends may only be
repaired by an approved mechanical squeezing procedure to reseat the stud.
2.3.8 Fillet welding of studs in both ends is not acceptable; nor is welding
on the stud end adjacent to the link’s flash-butt weld.
Existing studs with fillet welds on both ends will require special
consideration and will be subject to special crack detection methods. A reduction in
mechanical properties in way of the flash-butt weld will normally be required.
2.3.9 Where chain studs are secured by press-fitting and mechanical locking,
it is very difficult to quantify excessive looseness of chain studs. The decision to
reject or accept a link with a loose stud must depend on the Surveyor's judgement of
the overall condition of the chain complement.
Axial movement of studs of 1 mm or less is acceptable. Links with axial
movement greater than 2 mm must be replaced by squeezing or removed. Acceptance of
chain links with axial movements from 1 to 2 mm must be evaluated based on the
environmental conditions of the unit's location and expected period of time before
the chain is again available for inspection.
Lateral movement of studs up to 4 mm is acceptable.
2.3.10 Where links are damaged and have cracks, gouges and other surface
defects (excluding weld cracks), they may be removed by grinding, provided B2.3.4 is
complied with.
Links with surface defects which cannot be removed by grinding should be
replaced.
Where defective links are found, they are to be removed and replaced with
joining shackles, i.e., connecting links guided by the following good marine
practice:
- The replacement joining shackle is to comply with IACS W22 or
API 2F.
- Joining shackles are to pass through fairleads and windlasses
in the horizontal plane.
- Since joining shackles have much lower fatigue lives than
ordinary chain links, as few as possible should be used. On average, joining
shackles should be separated by 120 metres or more.
- If a large number of links meet the discard criteria and these
links are distributed in the whole chain length, the chain should be
replaced with new chain.
2.4 Fairlead and windlass inpsection - Chain
system
2.4.1 Fairlead inspections should verify that all fairleads move freely about
their respective pivot axes, to the full range of motion required for their proper
operation. All bolts, nuts and other hardware used to secure the fairlead shafts
should be inspected and replaced as required.
Fairlead attachment to the hull should be verified and NDT conducted as
necessary.
NOTE
There have been cases of closing plates on the fairlead shaft coming
loose due to corrosion of the threads of the securing bolts, resulting in serious
damage to the fairlead arrangements and the complete jamming of the fairlead and
chain. Consequently, the securing bolts should also be checked to ensure that the
bolt material does not corrode preferentially should the sacrificial anode system
fail to function in way of the fairlead.
2.4.2 Special attention should be given to the holding ability of the
windlasses. The chain stopper and the resultant load path to the unit's structure
should be inspected and its soundness verified.
2.4.3 It is essential that a link resting in a chain pocket makes contact with
the fairlead at only the four shoulder areas of the link to avoid critical bending
stresses in the link. Satisfactory chain support is to be verified, and excessive
wear in the pockets should be repaired as required to prevent future damage to the
chain.
2.4.4 Chain pockets may be repaired by welding in accordance with the standard
procedures supplied by the fairlead/windlass manufacturer. Normally, the hardness of
the pockets should be slightly softer than the hardness of the chain link and
procedures must be specific for the chain quality used.
2.5 Fairleads and windlass – Wire rope
systems
2.5.1 Fairleads are to be inspected in accordance with B2.4.1.
2.5.2 Special attention should be given to the holding ability of the winch
and the satisfactory operation of the pawls, ratchets and braking equipment. The
soundness of the resultant load path to the unit's structure should be verified.
Proper laying down of the wire on the winch drum should be verified to
the satisfaction of the Surveyor and drums and spooling gear adjustments made if
required.
2.6 Inspection of miscellaneous
fittings
2.6.1 Anchor shackles, large open links, swivels and connecting links should be
visually inspected. Certain areas should be examined by MPI. Areas to be examined
should be clearly marked on each item. Links and fittings should be dismantled as
required. Damaged items should be replaced as required by the attending Surveyor.
Illustrations showing the areas of concern may be found in API RP 2I, Figure 7.
General guidance on the areas requiring MPI is listed as follows:
- Large open links: the interior contact surfaces of large open
links.
- Bolted shackles: the inside contact areas and the pins.
- Swivels: the swivel pin and threads and mating surface.
2.6.2 Experience has shown that large numbers of anchors and chains are lost in
service due to connecting link failure. Fatigue problems have resulted from poorly
designed machined faces and corners. Joining shackles of Kenter or similar designs
manufactured before 1984 are of particular concern. Joining shackles used for higher
strength chains, such as ORQ and above, which do not have certificates of equivalent
quality should be rejected.
2.6.3 All joining shackles of Kenter or similar design which have been in
service for more than four years should be dismantled and MPI carried out.
Illustrations showing the areas of concern may be found in API RP 2I, Figure 7.
General guidance in the areas requiring MPI is listed as follows:
- Joining-shackle links: all machined and ground services of the
link and the sides of the curved portions of the link.
- Joining-shackle stud: machined surfaces only.
- Joining-shackle pin: 100 per cent.
Fatigue is considered to be the critical criterion in way of the
machined surfaces. On the remaining surface, the profile should be ground smooth and
MPI should be carried out upon completion of grinding. In general, the radius of the
completed grinding operation should produce a recess with a minimum radius of 20 mm
and a length along the link bar greater or equal to six times its depth.
NOTE
Sandblasting prior to MPI may change the machined surfaces and should be
avoided. Alternative methods of cleaning should be used.
Where links are damaged and have cracks, gouges or other surface defects
(excluding weld cracks), they may be removed by grinding, provided Pt 3, Ch 20, 2.3 Chain inspection criteria is complied with.
Links with surface defects which cannot be removed by grinding should be
replaced.
Where defective links are found, they are to be removed and replaced
with joining shackles, i.e., connecting links guided by the following good marine
practice:
- The replacement joining shackle is to comply with IACS W22 or
API 2F.
- Joining shackles are to pass through fairleads and windlasses
in the horizontal plane.
- Since joining shackles have much lower fatigue lives than
ordinary chain links as few as possible should be used. On average, joining
shackles should be separated by 120 metres or more.
- If a large number of links meet the discard criteria and these
links are distributed in the whole chain length, the chain should be
replaced with new chain.
2.6.4 Tapered pins holding the covers of connecting links together should make
good contact at both ends and the recess of counterbore at the large end of the pin
holder should be solidly plugged with a peened lead slug to prevent the pin from
working out.
2.6.5 Any joining shackles of Kenter or similar designs which are loose upon
reassembly should be rejected.
2.7 Wire rope
2.7.1 Acceptance criteria should be guided by ISO-Standard 4309-1981(E).
Further insight may be gained from the discard guidance provided by API RP 2I,
Figures 18 and 19.
2.7.2 It should be borne in mind that ISO-Standard 4309-1981(E) is primarily
intended for lifting appliances where the Factor of Safety may be higher than for
mooring wires.
2.7.3 The Surveyor should exercise great care in his interpretation of the
condition of the wire. An obvious acceptance or rejection is comparatively easy, but
the grey area between is difficult to evaluate. The Surveyor must make a sound
evaluation and technical judgement based on all available evidence.
2.7.4 In general, the age or time in service of the wire does not directly have
a bearing on the acceptance or rejection of the wire other than as a factor to be
taken into consideration by the Surveyor when deciding on the extent of the
survey.
2.7.5 100 per cent visual examination of wire ropes is to be carried out and
diameter measurements should be performed.
2.7.6 Visual examination should identify and record the following items for
each steel wire anchor line:
- The nature and number of wire breaks:
- Wire breaks at the termination.
- External wear and corrosion.
- Localised grouping of wire breaks.
- Deformation:
- Fracture of strands.
- Termination area.
- Reduction of rope diameter, including breaking or
extrusion of the core.
2.7.7 Diameter measurements should be taken at approximately 110 metre
intervals, at the discretion of the attending Surveyor. If areas of special interest
are found, the survey may be concentrated on these areas and diameter measurements
taken at much smaller intervals.
2.7.8 An internal examination should be undertaken as far as practicable if
there are indications of severe internal corrosion or possible breakage of the core
or wire breaks in underlying areas. See API RP 2I, Section 2.3.6.3, for
guidance on the internal inspection of wire rope.
2.8 Guidance on wire rope damage
2.8.1 The cause of wire rope failures may be deduced from the observed damage
to the rope. The information summarised in this sub-Section covers most types of
wire rope failure. More detailed information, including photographic examples, is
available in ISO-Standard 4309-1981(E) and API RP 2I.
2.8.2 Broken wires at the termination indicate high stresses at the termination
and may be caused by incorrect fitting of the termination, fatigue, overloading, or
mishandling during deployment or retrieval.
- Distributed broken wires, illustrated by Figures 9 to 12 of API
RP 2I, may indicate the reason for their failure:
- Crown breaks or breakage of individual wire at the top
of strands may be caused by excessive tension, fatigue, wear or
corrosion.
- Excessive tension is indicated by necking down of the
broken end of the wire.
- Fatigue is indicated by broken faces perpendicular to
the axis of the wire.
- Corrosion and wear may be indicated by reduced
cross-sections of the wire.
- Valley breaks at the interface between two strands
indicate tightening of the strands, usually caused by a broken core
or internal corrosion which has reduced the diameter of the
core.
- Valley breaks can be caused by high loads, tight
sheaves of too small a diameter.
- Locally grouped broken wires in a single strand or adjacent
strand may be due to local damage. Once begun, this type of damage will
usually get worse.
2.8.3 Changes in rope diameter can be caused by external wear, interwire and
interstrand wear, stretching or corrosion. A localised reduction in rope diameter
may indicate a break in the core. Conversely, an increase in rope diameter may
indicate a swollen core due to corrosion.
2.8.4 Wear on the crown of outer strands in the rope may be caused by rubbing
against fairleads, unit structure or the sea bed, depending on the location of the
wear. Internal wear between individual strands and wires in the rope is caused by
friction and is accelerated by bending of the rope and corrosion.
2.8.5 Corrosion decreases rope strength by reducing the cross-sectional area
and accelerates fatigue by creating an irregular surface which invites stress
cracking. Corrosion is indicated by:
- The diameter of the rope at fairleads will grow smaller.
- The diameter of stationary ropes may actually grow larger, due
to rust under the outer continuous layer of strands. Diameter growth is rare
for mooring lines.
2.8.6 Deformation, i.e., distortion of the rope from its normal construction,
may result in an uneven stress distribution in the rope. Kinking, bending,
scrubbing, crushing, and flattening are common wire rope deformations. Ropes with
slight deformations will not lose significant strength. Severe distortions can
accelerate deterioration and lead to premature failure.
2.8.7 Thermal damage, although rare for mooring ropes in normal service, may
be indicated by discoloration. Prompt attention should be given to damage caused by
excessively high or low temperatures. The effect of very low temperatures on wire
rope is unclear except for the known detrimental effect on lubricants.
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