Overview - ISO 13767:2020 (Shipside roller fairleads)
ISO 13767:2020 specifies requirements for shipside roller fairleads, the mooring and towing fittings used to lead mooring ropes from inboard to outboard. The standard covers classification by type, nominal sizes, dimensional requirements, materials, manufacturing and inspection rules, marking, and the basis for strength assessment (including finite element analysis). It replaces ISO 13767:2012 and aligns with related IMO guidance on mooring and towing equipment.
Key topics and technical requirements
- Types and sizes
- Two construction types: 2-roller and 3-roller.
- Nominal roller diameters (Dn): 150, 200, 250, 300, 350, 400, 450, 500 mm.
- Dimensions and tables
- Detailed dimensional tables and assembly drawings define mounting openings, throat geometry and welding details.
- Materials
- Seats and structural plates: weldable steel with a yield point of ≥ 235 N/mm².
- Manufacturing and inspection
- All surfaces, including welds, must be free of visible flaws.
- Surfaces in contact with ropes must be smooth and free from abrasive irregularities.
- External surfaces must have an anti‑corrosion protective finish.
- Marking and SWL
- Safe Working Load (SWL) must be recorded on the ship’s towing and mooring plan (per IMO MSC/Circ.1175).
- The fairlead must be marked with its SWL (in tonnes, symbol “t”) by weld bead or equivalent, placed so it is not obscured in operation.
- SWL values in the standard are provided for rope deflections of 90° and 160° (noted as θ = 90° and θ = 20° in the document).
- Actual onboard SWL requires consideration of under‑deck reinforcement and may be adjusted by agreement between user and manufacturer.
- Strength assessment / FEM
- Loading cases include horizontal and vertical loads (considered individually).
- Stress criterion: combined stress under SWL limited to 85% of material yield.
- FEM modeling guidance: 2D shell elements, mesh size ~3× plate thickness, and specified boundary conditions.
Applications - who uses this standard
- Shipbuilders and shipyards (fitting specification and installation)
- Mooring‑fittings manufacturers and OEMs (design, fabrication, marking)
- Naval architects and marine engineers (structural design, FE analysis)
- Classification societies and surveyors (type approval, inspection)
- Ship operators and shipmasters (mooring plans, operational SWL awareness)
Related standards and guidance
- ISO 13755 - Ships’ mooring and towing fittings - Steel rollers
- IMO Circular MSC/Circ.1175 - Guidance on shipboard towing and mooring equipment
- IACS UR A2 and OCIMF Mooring Equipment Guidelines (MEG4) - referenced for practice and design context
ISO 13767:2020 is a practical standard for safe, consistent selection, manufacture and marking of shipside roller fairleads, supporting reliable mooring operations and compliance with international mooring equipment guidance.