At a glance
| Client | A fleet operator with significant operations in Europe, Japan, South-east Asia, Singapore and the Middle East. Name withheld for confidentiality. |
|---|---|
| People involved | Ship managers, HSEQ managers and technical superintendents |
| What we delivered | A mooring gap analysis with a mitigation report, followed by DigiMoor X7 across the fleet |
| Frameworks covered | SOLAS 2024 mooring amendments, OCIMF MEG4, SIRE 2.0, TMSA 3 Stage 4, RightShip and DryBMS |
| Headline result | A 9x reduction in annual rope spend, as reported by the client, after DigiMoor X7's cost comparison engine identified the best-suited ropes |
The starting point
When the SOLAS amendments on mooring came into force on 1 January 2024, this operator was carrying three problems at once.
Engineering left to the crew. The new rules, SIRE 2.0's mooring questions and MEG4 all expected design values to be known and evidenced: the Ship Design Minimum Breaking Load (SDMBL) of each ship and the safe working load of every fitting. Those calculations are specialist work, yet compliance had largely been left to ships' crews with limited subject-matter support. The result depended on who was on board.
Records nobody could use. Line management, fitting use and lifecycle history lived in bulky Excel sheets, kept differently on each ship. Superintendents had no real-time view and no reliable data to decide how long a line should stay in service or how often it should be maintained. Lines risked being retired too early, at needless cost, or too late, at needless risk.
Buying without comparison. Rope procurement was decentralised. Without data comparing service life, quality, cost and availability across makers and rope types, the fleet could not tell which ropes suited it best, and it paid more than it needed to.
The operator also wanted its vessels to earn the Mooring Safety badge on the RightShip platform, and to meet DryBMS and TMSA expectations for mooring.
Why the operator chose this approach
- An approved system. DigiMoor X7 was the world's first mooring systems management solution approved by Class, which gave decision-makers confidence that the calculations and records would stand up to verification.
- A gap analysis before any software. The operator wanted to know its real exposure first, ship by ship.
- Compliance that runs itself. One system covering MEG4, SIRE 2.0, TMSA 3, RightShip, SOLAS and DryBMS, instead of separate checks for each.
- Something the crew would use. A seafarer-friendly interface with an offline mode, so records are made on deck rather than reconstructed later.
How the project ran
1. Gap analysis: fittings, lines, compliance and procedures
Our mooring engineers assessed each vessel's fittings against Ship Design MBL, along with its lines, compliance status and procedures. The gap analysis showed the risk in the current set-up in plain terms.
2. Mitigation report and design review
Each vessel received a mitigation report, including the SDMBL calculation and a mooring systems design review, so the fleet knew exactly what to fix and in what order.
3. Digital mooring plans in place of spreadsheets
DigiMoor X7 replaced the spreadsheets with ship-specific digital Mooring System Management Plans (MSMP) and Line Management Plans (LMP). Compliance became automated, real-time and fleet-wide, instead of something assembled before each audit.
4. Rope life decided on data
With usage recorded line by line, DigiMoor X7 began analysing rope life proactively and managing wear zones at ship and maker level. Lines are now retired on data rather than estimates, and mooring incident risk alerts flag the lines and practices that need attention.
5. Procurement decided on data
The maker and line type cost comparison engine put service life, quality, cost and availability side by side. Advance procurement planning and accurate, ship-specific ordering replaced last-minute buying vessel by vessel.
The results
| Area | Before | After |
|---|---|---|
| Rope spend | Decentralised buying with no comparison data | Best-suited ropes identified; annual rope spend 9x lower, as reported by the client |
| Rope life | Service life and maintenance frequency guessed | Proactive rope life analysis and wear zone management, extending rope service life |
| Compliance | Manual checks against several frameworks | Real-time, fleet-wide compliance with MEG4, SIRE 2.0, TMSA 3, RightShip, SOLAS and DryBMS |
| Recognition | No mooring distinction on RightShip | Vessels shown with the Mooring Safety badge on their RightShip vessel page |
| Inspection preparation | Evidence gathered by hand before each inspection | Automated MSMP, LMP and compliance checks streamlined SIRE 2.0 and TMSA 3 Stage 4 preparation |
| Risk | Subjective, crew-dependent judgement | Mooring incident risk alerts for enhanced safety |
| Buying | Last-minute, vessel by vessel | Advance, timely procurement planning and accurate ship-specific ordering |
About the 9x figure
The 9x figure is the client's own reported reduction in its annual rope spend. Using the cost comparison engine and data-supported purchasing, the operator identified the ropes best suited to its fleet, and it reports that it now spends nine times less a year on mooring ropes. It reflects this operator's fleet, trading pattern and previous buying. Your saving will depend on yours, which is why every engagement starts with a gap analysis.
In the client's words
“The software automated our complete mooring systems management, improving our operational efficiencies. This is a real innovation in mooring. Glad we associated with the DigiMoor team.”
“The Synergetic team's expertise has significantly enhanced our operational safety and regulatory compliance.”
What other fleets can take from this
- Know your design values first. Calculate SDMBL and check every fitting against it before buying new lines.
- Keep one record per line. A fleet-wide digital history replaces spreadsheets and makes every later decision possible.
- Retire lines on evidence. Usage, inspection and wear data, not the calendar alone, should decide when a line comes off.
- Buy on comparison, not habit. Service life, quality, cost and availability compared across makers and rope types is where the savings come from.
Our free white paper, Optimum retirement policy for mooring lines, explains the MEG4 retirement criteria behind point 3.
Is your fleet in the same position?
- Are mooring records still kept in Excel?
- Has every ship's SDMBL been calculated and every fitting checked against it?
- Could you show an inspector the history of any line on board today?
- Do your ships carry the Mooring Safety badge on RightShip?
If any answer is no, start where this operator started. Request a MEG4 mooring gap analysis or contact us. A shorter summary of this project is also on our blog: 9x lower mooring rope costs with DigiMoor X7.
Frequently asked questions
Who was the client in this case study?
The client is a fleet operator with significant operations in Europe, Japan, South-east Asia, Singapore and the Middle East. We do not publish the company's name, for confidentiality. Prospective clients who want to discuss the project in more detail can contact us, and we will share what the client permits.
What did the 9x saving refer to?
It refers to the client's annual spend on mooring ropes. With DigiMoor X7's maker and line type cost comparison engine, the operator compared service life, quality, cost and availability, identified best-suited ropes and reports that its annual rope spend fell ninefold. Every fleet's saving depends on its own ropes and buying history.
What is a MEG4 mooring gap analysis?
It is an assessment of a vessel's mooring system against OCIMF MEG4 and SOLAS II-1/3-8. Our engineers check fittings against Ship Design MBL, review lines, compliance and procedures, and deliver a mitigation report with the SDMBL calculation and a design review, so you know what to fix first.
What is the RightShip Mooring Safety badge?
It is a mark shown on a vessel's page on the RightShip platform when the vessel uses DigiMoor X7, which is part of RightShip's Zero Harm Innovation Partners Program under Mooring Safety. Charterers screening the ship on RightShip can see it alongside her other safety information.
Does DigiMoor X7 work offline on board?
Yes. DigiMoor X7 has an offline mode for vessels, so the crew records inspections, rotations and damage on deck without a connection, and the data syncs with the office when the ship is connected. It also runs standalone, without other Marine X7 modules.