ISO 6218:2019 PDF

Overview

ISO 6218:2019 specifies safety requirements and main dimensions for manually- and power-operated coupling devices used on inland navigation vessels for assembling push tows or coupling vessels alongside by means of rope connections. The standard defines required components, design principles, operator protections, designation rules and testing procedures to ensure stable positioning of coupled vessels and to reduce risk during creation, operation and separation of rope connections.

Key Topics

• Scope and components
  • Covers manually operated devices (handwheel, gear, rope drum, footbrake, arresting device, winch plate) and power-operated devices (power unit, controls, gearing, rope drum, arresting device).
  • Accessory elements include foundations and rope guide tracks.
• Safety requirements
  • Construction must prevent hazards from rope failure, crushing or shearing under expected operational and environmental conditions.
  • Combined devices must meet both manual and power requirements.
• Actuating power control (power-operated)
  • Motors must include controls limiting actuating power; motor power must reduce automatically when the intended straining force (per the standard) is reached so the straining force cannot be exceeded by more than 10%.
• Strength and design
  • All parts must be designed and secured to withstand the rope’s minimum breaking load (referenced in the standard’s tables).
  • Minimum rope drum diameter requirement updated (drum diameter ≥ 12 × maximum rope diameter).
• Design, dimensions and testing
  • Details on drum capacity, rope fastening, handwheel clearances, brakes, arresting devices, gears, tensioning devices and foundations.
  • Includes rules for designation, marking, operating and assembly instructions, plus individual and type testing (normative Annex A).
• Terminology
  • Clarifies terms such as “manually operated coupling device”, “power-operated coupling device”, “tensioning device”, “straining force” and “minimum breaking load”.

Applications and Users

ISO 6218 is directly applicable to:

• Shipbuilders and naval architects designing inland navigation vessels and push-tow assemblies
• Manufacturers of coupling devices, winches and tensioning equipment
• Vessel operators, port authorities and towage companies implementing safe mooring and coupling procedures
• Classification societies, safety engineers and regulators assessing conformity, testing and certification Practical uses include specifying safe coupling system designs, selecting equipment, preparing installation and operating instructions, and performing conformity tests.

Related Standards

• ISO 3730 - Shipbuilding and marine structures: mooring winches (electrical drives and controls requirements)
• ISO 2768-1 - General tolerances for linear and angular dimensions
• ISO 4014 - Hexagon head bolts - Product grades A and B

Keywords: ISO 6218, inland navigation vessels, coupling devices, rope connections, safety requirements, main dimensions, manually operated, power-operated, winch, tensioning device, testing.