NNMS Handout School:

IKOT NTUEN NNMS

TOPIC: RIGGING THEORY

RIGGING THEORY

DEFINITION
1. Rigging can be defined as all types of ropes and fittings of
permanent and movable nature, and to know how to use, maintain
and replace such fittings when damaged. It can equally be defined as
a subject of its own which describes the various types of ropes with
which a Seaman works, and the manner in which he uses and
maintain them.

TYPES OF RIGGING
There are two types of rigging namely:
1. Running Rigging.
2. Standing Rigging.

RUNNING RIGGING

i. Jackstay transfer.
ii. Replenishment at Sea.
iii. Man Aloft.
iv. Ropes (Cordage).

i. Jack Stay transfer. Is used to transfer men and

provision from one Ship to another.
ii. Replenishment at [Link] means the re-stocking of Ships
with men, ammunitions, stores, provision, fuel and or water for
the fleet to operate for long period of time away from harbour.
iii. Man Aloft. It is to de-energize al the important
voltages in the random when the CAS(Central Antenna System)
is to be serviced.
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NNMS Handout School:
IKOT NTUEN NNMS
TOPIC: RIGGING THEORY

iv. Ropes (Cordage). Rope is a flexible line of various sizes

and lengths, made from natural, man made and or steel
material, the is used by a Seaman in his day to day activities
onboard.

ROPE WORK: It is the general use, maintenance, repairs and

stowage of ropes onboard a Ship.

TYPE OF ROPES

Ropes of any kind can be described as belonging to any of the three

main types of rope which are:
i. Cordage made of vegetable fibre (Natural).
ii. cordage made of man-made fibre (Nylon and Terylene).
iii. Steel wire rope (Wrought iron and steel).

2. Vegetable Fibre Rope. Vegetable fibre rope is first combed

into along even ribbon. The ribbons are twisted into yarns. This
process is known as “Spinning” certain number of yarns are twisted
together to form strand. The process is known as “twisting strand”.
The strand can be twisted either left or right handed. The number of
yarns required to make a strand depend on the size of rope you want
to make. Three or four strands are now made up into left and right
handed rope. This process is known as (LAYING) which are carried
out in the opposite direction which are used in previous stage of
twisting the strand. This process is done to prevent strand from not
twisting.
Type of lays
3. There are three type of laid rope:
a. Hawser laid rope
b. Shroud laid rope
c. Cable rope
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NNMS Handout School:
IKOT NTUEN NNMS
TOPIC: RIGGING THEORY

4. Hawser laid rope. It consist of three strand laid up into a rope

of about 120 fathoms in length. The mostly use in the navy.
5. Shroud laid rope. It consist of four strand laid around a jute
heart or center of the material (Manila or SISAL), it is weaker and less
elastic than hawser laid rope of equal size. It is also supplied in coil of
120 fathoms.

6. Cable laid rope. The three hawser laid rope each of 120
fathom, laid up together in opposite direction of the own lay, to form
a cable rope of 100 fathom in length. It is weaker but more elastic
than rope of equal size. It is used for towing ship.
TYPES OF VEGETABLE FIBRE ROPES
7. There are four types of vegetable fibre rope
a. Manila
b. Sisal
c. Hemp
d. Coir

GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS OF VEGETABLE FIBRE ROPE

8. The characteristics of vegetable fibre rope are

a. The strand tends to unlay unless end of the rope whipped

with twine.

b. The rope is subjected to strand under loads, it may regain

its normal length when slacked but if it does not part the rope
but cause a permanent extension in the length and there by
render it until for service use.

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NNMS Handout School:
IKOT NTUEN NNMS
TOPIC: RIGGING THEORY

c. Rope under load will tend to twist in opposite direction of it

original lay, there by tend to unlay itself but regain its normal form
when slack.
d. When wet, rope will usually shrink in length in proportion
to the amount by which it swell in diameter but it will recovered
it original length when dry and after use.
e. Rope which is continually subject to heat and damp e.g the
rope will lose its elasticity and strength.

THE USE OF CORDAGE VEGETABLE ROPE

9. Cordage vegetable rope isused for:
a. Sling, falls, berthing, hawser and towing.

b. Boat fall.
c. Use for small line and small stuff.

MAN MADE FIBRE CORDAGE

10. From 1984 man-made fibre rope become commercially used
throughout the world.
TYPES OF MAN-MADE FIBRE ROPE
11. There are 4 types of man-made fibre rope namely
a. Nylon
b. Terylene
c. Polypropylene
d. Polythene
12. Polypropylene and polythene they have additional property to
float. They are superior to natural fibre ropes and more expensive
than natural fibre.
CONSTRUCTION OF MAN MADE FIBRE ROPE

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NNMS Handout School:
IKOT NTUEN NNMS
TOPIC: RIGGING THEORY

13. Each strand consists of a sufficient number of equal size

continuous to produce a rope. The hawser laid rope consist of these
strand, each uniform and well laid as free as practicable from defects
in proportion of yarn, strand and finishing.
QUALITIES
14. The superior qualities of man-made fibre rope are:
<

a. Breaking strength and stretch. Nylon and terylene

rope is approximately three times and two timesas strong
respectively as natural fibre rope of the size. Nylon rope will
extend to 45 percent and terylene rope 33 percent of its length
before parting.
b. Shocking Resistance. Within the safe working load
nylon rope will stretch 30 percent of its length. Both have
excellent power of recovery after extension. It has ability of shock
absorption
c. Wet Strength. A thoroughly saturated nylon rope
retains 90 – 95 percent of its strength. The strength of
terylene rope is affected when it is wet. When these ropes are
wet and under strain the limit steam like.
d. Lightness in weight. Man made yarn are the lighter
than any other rope.
e. Immunity to Temperature Change. Man-made fibre
ropes are immune to normal temperature change. However,
care should be taken to avoid excessive friction.
f. Sunlight man-made fibre rope loses strength when it is
exposed to strong sunlight for long periods of time.
g. Immunity of Chemicals. Man-made fibre ropes are
unharmed by oil and alkalis.
THE USE OF MAN MADE FIBRE ROPE ONBOARD A SHIP
15. The man-made fibre ropes used onboard are:
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IKOT NTUEN NNMS
TOPIC: RIGGING THEORY

a. Towing hawser.
b. Berthing hawser.
c. Hurricane hawser.
d. Signal halyard.
e. Cargo nets.
f. Aircraft carrier crash barrier nets.
CONSTRUCTION OF WIRE ROPE
16. A wire rope is constructed of a number of small wire extended
continuously throughout its entire length; these wire are twisted into
strands and strand themselves are laid up to form a wire rope with
exception of some special wire rope e.g (minesweeping and
purchase rope). All wire rope are twisted into left handed around a
jute or wire cord, and the strand from a wire rope and laid up right
handed around a hemp or jute heart.
TYPES OF WIRE ROPE
17. There are 4 types of wire rope namely.
a. Steel wire Rope (SWR).
b. Flexible Steel Wire Rope (FSWR).
c. Extra Special Flexible Steel Wire Rope (ESFSWR).
d. Flexible Mild Steel Wire Rope (FMSWR).

THE USES OF WIRE ROPE ONBOARD SHIP

18. Wire rope could be used onboard for the following

a. Wire rope is use as berthing hawser in a heavy weather.

b. It is use as anchor strop (stopper).

c. It is use for towing ship.
d. it is use for RAS.
e. It is use for dressing ship over all.
f. It is use for mooring a ship.
g. It is for cable lay–out bower anchor.
h. It is use as head rope for berthing.
j. It is use for hurricane hawser.
k. It is use for secondary towing hawser.
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NNMS Handout School:
IKOT NTUEN NNMS
TOPIC: RIGGING THEORY

l. It is use for spring to berthing hawser.

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