Kawasaki Releases a Tension Monitoring System for Mooring Line for Its Safe Berthing/Unberthing Assist System, Realizing Work Efficiency and Safety Improvements via Digitalization of Mooring Operation

Tokyo, April 8, 2024 — Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Ltd. announced today its release of a Tension Monitoring System for Mooring Line designed to improve safety and work efficiency in ship mooring tasks and related management operations for ships docked at wharfs and similar locations.

Kawasaki’s system enables remote monitoring of mooring line tension in locations away from actual mooring equipment. Because factors such as tidal changes and cargo conditions create changes in mooring line tensions for moored vessels, management of said line tensions is vital to ensuring safety. Current tension confirmation operations entail having veteran crew members who are highly knowledgeable about mooring equipment carry out on-deck patrols every one to two hours, regardless of time of day and weather conditions, in order to monitor tension through visual and auditory observation—in other words, not in a quantifiable manner.

Kawasaki’s system integrates a sensor in the braking mechanism of the mooring equipment, enabling brake holding force to be converted into numerical data (compliant with OCIMF*¹ MEG4*²). In addition, the system employs a proprietary Kawasaki algorithm to estimate tensile force between the bitts and bollards on a wharf representing the first-ever example worldwide of this type of data display (according to Kawasaki’s survey conducted in February 2024). Furthermore, Kawasaki’s system can output numerical data and graphs in real time for winch brake holding forces in safe places onboard such as the bridge (control room) and cargo control room, and for mooring line tensile forces. This enables more accurate mooring management, labor savings, and improved safety for the crew.

Scope of Application
- Mooring winch: 50–400 kN rated winding force, 150–1,360 kN brake holding load

Multiple verification tests for Kawasaki’s system were carried out in real-life operating environments aboard actual ships as part of joint research and development for the Safe Berthing/Unberthing Assist System by Kawasaki, Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha, Ltd. (“K” Line) and Kawasaki Kinkai Kisen Kaisha, Ltd. (“K” Line Kinkai). Based on these results and feedback from ship crew, the system was designed with practical and easy-to-use tensile force on-screen information displays and other features.

Kawasaki is Japan’s only domestic manufacturer involved in engineering for everything from ship propulsion to mooring systems, and works with propulsion equipment, a dynamic positioning system (DPS) for automated ship control, steering gear, deck machinery and more. The company strives for further safety improvements throughout all operations, from berthing and unberthing to ship mooring and mooring management, as part of its mission to achieve safer and more reliable marine mobility.

*1

OCIMF: Oil Companies International Marine Forum A forum established by oil companies involved in transport and terminal operations related to crude oil, petrochemical products, gas and so on, OCIMF’s goal is the promotion of best practices in relation to tankers, cargo vessels, offshore vessels, and also best practices for seashore, landside, and offshore terminal interface design, construction and operations.

*2

MEG4: Mooring Equipment Guidelines 4th Edition These guidelines were established for purposes of improving the design, performance and safety of mooring systems used by ships, terminals and elsewhere with the goal of preventing mooring-related accidents.

Related Links

Joint R&D Agreement Aimed at World’s First Practical Deployment of the “Safe Berthing/Unberthing Assist System” ―To improve safe ship operation and realize autonomous ships in the future― (January 5, 2023)
https://global.kawasaki.com/en/corp/newsroom/news/detail/?f=20230105_9168