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Understanding Lubrication of Wire Ropes

on Ships

By Bikram Singh | In: Marine Technology | Last Updated on June 30, 2017

1.7K 1.7K 19 17 7
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Wire ropes are used for a variety of maritime operations. Applied onboard all types of marine vessels
including ships, large boats, drilling units, etc. these ropes are chosen for their flexibility, breaking
strength, resistance to deformation and bending, anti-corrosion and anti-frictional properties.

Wire ropes are mostly utilised for mooring, towing, handling heavy lifts and similar other operations. Due
to such profound usage, wire ropes are subject to constant wear and tear. They are exposed to
corrosive seawater, dry and heated working temperatures, high and inconsistent pressures / tensions on
wires and strands, chafing and internal wear, etc.

Such adverse work conditions can lead to untimely breakdown of the wire ropes if proper care is not
maintained. In order to avoid premature failure of wire ropes, understanding onboard maintenance
requirements such as their lubrication is very important.

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Construction of a steel wire rope

Steel wire ropes are heavy duty wires wrapped around jointly to form strands. These strands are firmly
twisted over the wire rope core to form a final rope. The core of the wire rope is made up of different
materials namely nylon, hemp, etc. The construction of the wire rope is primarily specified by the
number of strands and the number of wires in each strand. The arrangement of wires in the strand, type
of lay and outer and core material depend on the rope’s indispensable application for onboard usage.

Lubrication of Wire Ropes

To avoid corrosion, entail a longer life and evade subsequent damage due to consistent wear and tear of
the wire ropes, regular and proper lubrication is vital. Although, marine lubricants are available in
abundance the selection of these lubricants has to be with respect to the type of wire ropes to be
lubricated. Different lubricants have diverse properties and characteristics.

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A lubricant used for wire ropes must therefore:

• Be free of additives and compounds which result in corrosive reactions or degeneration

• Be water-resistant and non-emulsifying

• Not contain grit, sand, other abrasives, water, chlorine, or similar impurities

• Have high-quality layering properties

• Be able to penetrate easily to the core of the wire

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Why is Re-lubrication required?

During the manufacturing process of steel wire ropes, lubrication is carried out in order to protect initial
damage to the wire due to corrosion during transportion and stowage. This also reduces the initial wear
and tear of the wire ropes. Wire ropes once used loose the initial lubrication and start “drying up”.
Therefore, to maximize the shelf life of the ropes which are subject to usage and stowage conditions,
regular re-lubrication is required. Shipboard maintenance charts such as ‘Planned Maintenance
Systems’ should include wire rope lubrication at frequent intervals and also take account of the type of
lubricants applicable for the category of wire ropes onboard.

Lubricating methods

Before lubricating wire ropes onboard one must ensure that grit, sand, old lubricant layers are
considerably removed using wire brushes, compressed air, or relevant solvents. Brushing, painting and
swabbing are the most common application techniques used onboard. These methods, however, do not
provide adequate penetration to the wire rope core. In order to provide good penetration to the core of
the rope, pressurised lubricators are used.

Types of Lubricants

Lubricants most commonly used on board for maintenance purposes have a high penetration rate and
melting point, rust protection and inhibition properties, adhesive and semi-drying film when applied, and
be used in all climates. These lubricants that are used for various shipboard applications are easily
available in the market.

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‘Asphalt’ based lubricants that are the most frequently used lubricants on ships are viscous in nature.
These types of lubricants are often premixed with an inflammable solvent, which can be applied easily
and has penetrating properties. These products are applied on the wire ropes by way of brushing,
swabbing or painting. Some of the ‘Asphalt’ based lubricants require heating which are prone to
becoming frail when in low temperatures and may lead to ‘dripping’ in heated climates.

‘Paraffin Wax’ based lubricants are another set of products that can be used for wire rope maintenance.
These wax based products are generally used without additives or solvents which means they are to be
melted before application. They too are applied over the wire ropes by either brushing or swabbing.

‘Synthetic Oil’ based lubricants are considered to be the best of them all. They are high performance
multi-fits generally applied with lithium based additives / solvents for providing adequate viscosity and
thickness, contain anti-corrosive compounds with rust inhibitors and are water-resistant. These special
lubricants are applied over wire ropes using pressurised lubricators for forced penetration.

In addition, there are other excellent products used lubricating wire ropes depending on the application

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methods and their overall structure and composition. Choosing the right lubrication for wire ropes on
ships is as important as scheduled planned maintenance.

Do you know any other important points for lubrication of wire ropes on ships? Let us know in the
comments.

Image Credits: dawson-group, wikimedia, metals-b2b

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About Bikram Singh

Bikram Pal Singh – is a professional mariner and blogger. He has sailed extensively
serving on various Oil tankers and Offshore Vessels. Currently a Chief Officer, he enjoys
reading and compiling notes about critical shipboard operations and crew psychology. When not
sailing, he loves backpacking, is an ardent adventurer and a certified diver.

Comments

Abdeali says
JULY 3, 2016 AT 6:19 AM

Asphalt based lubricants are typically used for Towing and Mooring wires.Wax based and
synthetic oil based lubricants are mainly used for Crane and Luffing Wires.

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