Synthetic mooring ropes have a proven track record of use in harsh operating conditions over the past two decades. As one of the main users of ropes for permanent mooring systems, the oil and gas industry has opted for these components because they possess performance characteristics and economies of scale which are in many respects superior to steel components. Given this accrued experience, it is unsurprising that several marine renewable energy (MRE) device developers have utilised synthetic ropes, motivated by the need to specify economical, reliable and durable mooring systems. Whilst these components are potentially an enabling technology for the MRE sector, this is a new field of application which can feature highly dynamic mooring tensions and... |