WSS’s mooring ropes, made from petroleum-based polyurethane, pose both a safety risk and an environmental burden. Ropes are often replaced prematurely to avoid the risk of snapping onboard. As most are ultimately incinerated or landfilled, this represents a significant contribution to plastic pollution and carbon emissions as the global shipping industry retires an estimated 10,000 tons of mooring ropes annually.
While exact GHG emissions from mooring rope waste are not yet quantified, polyurethane-based ropes are derived from fossil fuels and contribute to the broader 860 million tons of CO₂ associated with global plastic production. Without intervention, this waste stream will continue to grow, undermining both environmental and operational sustainability goals.
To address this, WSS has initiated the development of “smartropes” equipped with embedded sensors that monitor tension and degradation. This innovation aims to extend rope lifespan and reduce waste by enabling targeted repairs rather than full rope replacement. However, there are several technical challenges associated with this type of solution. The technical challenges are associated with wifi or other forms of IoT network onboard being relatively new and therefore only present in designated areas such as the bridge and machine room, as well as with the long distances between the sensors at the end of the rope, the body of ship and the areas with connectivity. Furthermore, the electric wiring onboard is not typically set up for "plug and play" and any battery-run device needs to balance long battery lives with strong signals to cover as much distance between receivers as possible. Solving these challenges is vital for the ropes to be fully effective.
WSS’s mooring ropes, made from petroleum-based polyurethane, pose both a safety risk and an environmental burden. Ropes are often replaced prematurely to avoid the risk of snapping onboard. As most are ultimately incinerated or landfilled, this represents a significant contribution to plastic pollution and carbon emissions as the global shipping industry retires an estimated 10,000 tons of mooring ropes annually.
While exact GHG emissions from mooring rope waste are not yet quantified, polyurethane-based ropes are derived from fossil fuels and contribute to the broader 860 million tons of CO₂ associated with global plastic production. Without intervention, this waste stream will continue to grow, undermining both environmental and operational sustainability goals.
To address this, WSS has initiated the development of “smartropes” equipped with embedded sensors that monitor tension and degradation. This innovation aims to extend rope lifespan and reduce waste by enabling targeted repairs rather than full rope replacement. However, there are several technical challenges associated with this type of solution. The technical challenges are associated with wifi or other forms of IoT network onboard being relatively new and therefore only present in designated areas such as the bridge and machine room, as well as with the long distances between the sensors at the end of the rope, the body of ship and the areas with connectivity. Furthermore, the electric wiring onboard is not typically set up for "plug and play" and any battery-run device needs to balance long battery lives with strong signals to cover as much distance between receivers as possible. Solving these challenges is vital for the ropes to be fully effective.
WSS’s mooring ropes, made from petroleum-based polyurethane, pose both a safety risk and an environmental burden. Ropes are often replaced prematurely to avoid the risk of snapping onboard. As most are ultimately incinerated or landfilled, this represents a significant contribution to plastic pollution and carbon emissions as the global shipping industry retires an estimated 10,000 tons of mooring ropes annually.
While exact GHG emissions from mooring rope waste are not yet quantified, polyurethane-based ropes are derived from fossil fuels and contribute to the broader 860 million tons of CO₂ associated with global plastic production. Without intervention, this waste stream will continue to grow, undermining both environmental and operational sustainability goals.
To address this, WSS has initiated the development of “smartropes” equipped with embedded sensors that monitor tension and degradation. This innovation aims to extend rope lifespan and reduce waste by enabling targeted repairs rather than full rope replacement. However, there are several technical challenges associated with this type of solution. The technical challenges are associated with wifi or other forms of IoT network onboard being relatively new and therefore only present in designated areas such as the bridge and machine room, as well as with the long distances between the sensors at the end of the rope, the body of ship and the areas with connectivity. Furthermore, the electric wiring onboard is not typically set up for "plug and play" and any battery-run device needs to balance long battery lives with strong signals to cover as much distance between receivers as possible. Solving these challenges is vital for the ropes to be fully effective.
WSS’s mooring ropes, made from petroleum-based polyurethane, pose both a safety risk and an environmental burden. Ropes are often replaced prematurely to avoid the risk of snapping onboard. As most are ultimately incinerated or landfilled, this represents a significant contribution to plastic pollution and carbon emissions as the global shipping industry retires an estimated 10,000 tons of mooring ropes annually.
While exact GHG emissions from mooring rope waste are not yet quantified, polyurethane-based ropes are derived from fossil fuels and contribute to the broader 860 million tons of CO₂ associated with global plastic production. Without intervention, this waste stream will continue to grow, undermining both environmental and operational sustainability goals.
To address this, WSS has initiated the development of “smartropes” equipped with embedded sensors that monitor tension and degradation. This innovation aims to extend rope lifespan and reduce waste by enabling targeted repairs rather than full rope replacement. However, there are several technical challenges associated with this type of solution. The technical challenges are associated with wifi or other forms of IoT network onboard being relatively new and therefore only present in designated areas such as the bridge and machine room, as well as with the long distances between the sensors at the end of the rope, the body of ship and the areas with connectivity. Furthermore, the electric wiring onboard is not typically set up for "plug and play" and any battery-run device needs to balance long battery lives with strong signals to cover as much distance between receivers as possible. Solving these challenges is vital for the ropes to be fully effective.
About WSS
Wilhelmsen Ships Service (WSS) is part of the Wilhelmsen Group, a family-owned maritime conglomerate with roots dating back to 1861. The company is headquartered in Lysaker, but all operations are global. WSS operates the world’s largest maritime network, delivering over 225,000 shipments annually across 2,200 ports. The company serves around 50% of the global merchant fleet and supports more than 27,000 vessels each year. With around 1,300 employees world-wide, WSS offers a wide range of products and services for vessels in operation, dry dock, or under construction. These include maintenance chemicals, industrial gases, mooring ropes, and other critical supplies.
WSS’s customer base is diverse and global, with varying preferences and procurement patterns. The maritime sector, which handles 80% of global trade, is central to the world economy and increasingly influenced by ESG considerations. WSS emphasizes sustainability, highlighting shipping’s lower CO₂ emissions compared to other transport modes.
About WSS
Wilhelmsen Ships Service (WSS) is part of the Wilhelmsen Group, a family-owned maritime conglomerate with roots dating back to 1861. The company is headquartered in Lysaker, but all operations are global. WSS operates the world’s largest maritime network, delivering over 225,000 shipments annually across 2,200 ports. The company serves around 50% of the global merchant fleet and supports more than 27,000 vessels each year. With around 1,300 employees world-wide, WSS offers a wide range of products and services for vessels in operation, dry dock, or under construction. These include maintenance chemicals, industrial gases, mooring ropes, and other critical supplies.
WSS’s customer base is diverse and global, with varying preferences and procurement patterns. The maritime sector, which handles 80% of global trade, is central to the world economy and increasingly influenced by ESG considerations. WSS emphasizes sustainability, highlighting shipping’s lower CO₂ emissions compared to other transport modes.
About WSS
Wilhelmsen Ships Service (WSS) is part of the Wilhelmsen Group, a family-owned maritime conglomerate with roots dating back to 1861. The company is headquartered in Lysaker, but all operations are global. WSS operates the world’s largest maritime network, delivering over 225,000 shipments annually across 2,200 ports. The company serves around 50% of the global merchant fleet and supports more than 27,000 vessels each year. With around 1,300 employees world-wide, WSS offers a wide range of products and services for vessels in operation, dry dock, or under construction. These include maintenance chemicals, industrial gases, mooring ropes, and other critical supplies.
WSS’s customer base is diverse and global, with varying preferences and procurement patterns. The maritime sector, which handles 80% of global trade, is central to the world economy and increasingly influenced by ESG considerations. WSS emphasizes sustainability, highlighting shipping’s lower CO₂ emissions compared to other transport modes.
About WSS
Wilhelmsen Ships Service (WSS) is part of the Wilhelmsen Group, a family-owned maritime conglomerate with roots dating back to 1861. The company is headquartered in Lysaker, but all operations are global. WSS operates the world’s largest maritime network, delivering over 225,000 shipments annually across 2,200 ports. The company serves around 50% of the global merchant fleet and supports more than 27,000 vessels each year. With around 1,300 employees world-wide, WSS offers a wide range of products and services for vessels in operation, dry dock, or under construction. These include maintenance chemicals, industrial gases, mooring ropes, and other critical supplies.
WSS’s customer base is diverse and global, with varying preferences and procurement patterns. The maritime sector, which handles 80% of global trade, is central to the world economy and increasingly influenced by ESG considerations. WSS emphasizes sustainability, highlighting shipping’s lower CO₂ emissions compared to other transport modes.