PARTNERSHIP AND PERFORMANCE ARE DRIVERS OF REVOLUTIONARY SHORETENSION® MOORING SOLUTION

The Netherlands, 15 May 2014 - ShoreTension®, a revolutionary vessel mooring system, is helping the marine industry to address the global challenges of energy conservation, improving ships' safety and the continuous need to reduce down-time of available terminals. The ShoreTension® system uses ropes made with Dyneema® SK78 fiber from DSM to ensure permanent tension, even in extreme conditions.

ShoreTension® is a stand-alone hydraulically controlled mooring system, designed to absorb the energy of the moving ship in a gust of wind and store this internally whilst paying out the mooring lines. When the peak loads are over, the system heaves in the lines with the energy stored, returning to its initial position. The system does not require any external energy, thus providing an effective and sustainable mooring solution.

To demonstrate its reliability, the ShoreTension® system has undergone extensive tests after it was introduced to a number of end-users at various ports around the world, such as Rotterdam, Sines and Cotonou. These were all completed successfully.

The four-way partnership between ShoreTension BV, Hoenderop BV, Gleistein Ropes and DSM Dyneema BV provided a significant contribution to the success of the ShoreTension® vessel mooring system.

At the heart of the system are ‘MegaTwin Dyneema® HS Dyneema® SSC’ lines produced by Geo Gleistein & Sohn GmbH. Their load bearing cores are made with Dyneema® SK78 fiber from DSM, setting a new standard in the design of light, strong and stiff mooring lines.

A new “snake skin cover” was developed with Dyneema® by Gleistein Ropes to help protect the load bearing core during its use, thus mitigating the risk of premature line failure, while extending the ropes’ lifetime, saving on replacement cost and reducing environmental impact.

Gert van den Burg of ShoreTension B.V. explains: “Whereas with conventional mooring ropes, most of the tension is transferred to the ship, in the new system the tension is transferred to the ShoreTension® unit, located onshore. Because of the exceptional demands of the system, mooring lines need to be durable, light and strong, with little or no stretch. Mooring lines made with Dyneema® can meet these demands given the properties of the fiber used and their proven value for mooring of VLCC’s, LNG carriers and cruise lines for many years.”

To address the unique needs of the system, Gleistein Ropes and DSM Dyneema B.V. provided a dedicated principal-based system approach at the full-scale ShoreTension test facility in Vlaardingen. Gert van den Burg: “A partnership can only be successful if all participants deliver high levels of commitment, dedication and focus. Gleistein Ropes and DSM Dyneema continue to meet our expectations to the full.”

DSM Dyneema President Gerard de Reuver said: “The ShoreTension System offers exciting perspectives for the shipping industry in terms of safety and productivity. Moreover, the system also addresses the global challenges of energy conservation and pollution control, which we face as a society. At DSM we are delighted to be able to apply our Bright Science for projects such as these.”

Mooring ropes made with Dyneema® fiber are 7 times stronger than steel, which makes them strong enough to take the highest loads. They are lightweight yet smooth and easy to handle. Ropes made with Dyneema® are also safer – there is no danger of backlash or snaking in the unlikely event of a rope break and they last at least twice as long as steel and other synthetic ropes.

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