Mooring Line
A Mooring Line is the rope or wire that physically holds a ship in its berth. Modern lines are usually high-strength synthetic fibre (polyester or HMPE) or, on some ships, steel wire with a synthetic tail, each with a rated breaking load matched to the mooring plan.
Lines are named by function: head and stern lines run forward and aft, breast lines hold the ship into the berth, and spring lines stop fore-and-aft movement. Worn, mismatched or overloaded lines are a leading cause of mooring accidents, so inspection, retirement criteria and correct load management are closely governed.
The mooring line is the component under the most tension on the mooring deck, and a parted line snapping back has killed and injured many seafarers. Line selection, condition and the danger zones around them are central to mooring safety management.
What is snap-back in mooring?
When a mooring line under tension parts, it recoils violently toward the winch or fairlead. The snap-back zone is the dangerous area a line may recoil into, kept clear of people during mooring.