Woven in Maritime History - Samson Rope Reporter_Woven in...Woven in Maritime History ... Grounding...
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38 Maritime Reporter & Engineering News HISTORY MARITIME REPORTER’S 70TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION The history of rope making is as long as that of the human race. Archeologists tell us it was one of the first tools creat- ed from various grasses, reeds, and ani- mal sinew. These rudimentary ropes were used for fishing, hunting, shelter building, agriculture, and the domesti- cation of animals. For millennia, those who used rope were the ones who made it. The mechanization of the rope-mak- ing process did not begin until the num- ber of sailing ships grew to the point that the demand for ropes outstripped supply. Among many cordage compa- nies to answer the demand for rope, a few stand out as influential and innova- tive in the industry. As the machinery was developed, companies were founded that would influence the cordage industry well into the 21st century. In 1816, Gladding Braided Products was founded to supply rope to the clipper ship market, and later, in 1869, Hooven Allison appeared on the scene, having pioneered the rope industry during the Civil War. In 1878, the J.P. Tolman Company was founded in Massachusetts, and the American Manufacturing Company (AMCO) was founded in Brooklyn in 1889. All of these companies survived independent- ly of the National Cordage Trust that threatened to monopolize the industry until the Sherman Antitrust Act was passed in 1890. A significant milestone was achieved in rope technology when the Tolman Company began incorporating rein- forcement cores in braided sash cords in 1888. The company was then renamed Samson Cordage Works. Synthetic Fibers: A New Era Until World War II, ropes were made from natural fibers, including manila, sisal, and hemp. The strongest of these was manila, a fiber that comes from the Abaca plant and grows in the Philippine Islands. Sisal is a cheaper, coarser, and weaker fiber that grows in Mexico, Brazil, and Cuba. The quest for a syn- thetic fiber began when the U.S. lost the Philippine Islands to Japan during WWII. Dupont responded by develop- ing a nylon filament that was used in flak jackets and parachute shrouds. Nylon proved to be a good fiber for pro- ducing ropes. AMCO and its subsidiary St. Louis Cordage Mills took advantage of the new technology by introducing the first synthetic 3-strand nylon rope in 1948. The strength of this new rope was 2.5 times that of manila and 5% lighter size for size. Nylon did not rot, mildew, or deteriorate when exposed to water like natural fibers. However, it did have several drawbacks. It was expensive, had a very high elongation rate, and would not hold up well when exposed to frictional heat. Polyester was the next fiber to be used for rope, proving to be as strong as nylon but with lower elon- gation, better abrasion resistance, and higher melting temperatures. Innovations Rapidly Advance Rope Technology Innovations through the 20th Century rapidly advanced the rope industry as developments and discoveries were made. • In the early 50s, AMCO produced the first ropes from polypropylene. These ropes were half the weight of manila at twice the strength. They lasted longer and were as economical as mani- la. The fibers could be produced on site and the ropes could be made any color. This was the death warrant for manila and sisal fibers. • In 1952, Herzog Rope was estab- lished in Richmond, B.C., Canada. Specializing in ropes for the Northwest fishing industry, Herzog developed Permaflex lead line for the seine indus- try in 1989. Rope Technology Woven in Maritime History Samson Cordage Works at the Home Beautiful Exposition, Mechanics' Hall, Boston, Mass., April 15-29, 1922. February 4, 1959 Keel laying of USS Enterprise, first nuclear powered aircraft carrier, Newport News, VA June 1959 Launching of USS George Washington (SSBN-598), first nuclear powered fleet ballistic missile submarine, at Groton, CT June 1959 Opening of the St. Lawrence Seaway July 1959 Launching of nuclear-powered vessel Savannah at New York Shipbuilding Co. January, 1960 Bathyscaph Trieste descends to deepest part of the ocean, Marianas Trench October 26, 1960 Passing of noted naval architect George G. Sharp at age 86 November 1961 Commissioning of USS Enterprise (CVA(N)-65), the Navy's first nuclear-pow- ered aircraft carrier. Vessel built at Newport News. April 1969 The first Offshore Technology Conference (OTC). November 1971 Passing of the memorable Vice Admiral Emory S. “Jerry” Land, the shipbuild- ing "czar" of World War II, at age 92 October 1973 Record transpacific voyage by SL-7 class container ship Sea-Land Commerce at 33.26 knots November 1975 Sinking of ore carrier Edmund Fitzgerald in Lake Superior with the loss of all 29 crew members 1976 Tankers Batillus and Bellamya, of Société Maritime Shell, built at St. Nazaire; were, at over 553,000 dwt, the largest tankers ever constructed. 1977 President Jimmy Carter signs a treaty with Panama, agree- ing to turn over the Panama Canal and the surrounding zone to Panama by the year 2000. June 1977 Delivery of LNG Aquarius, first of eight 125,000-m³ LNG carriers from General Dynamics Quincy yard 1984 The Navy demonstrates organometallic polymer antifouling bottom paints in the fleet with eight years of service free of fouling. 1985 Robert Ballard team discovers Titanic wreck. March 1989 Grounding of tanker Exxon Valdez on Bligh Reef, Prince Photo Credit: ACP MR Jan.2009 #5 (33-40) REAL.qxd 1/9/2009 11:50 AM Page 38
Transcript of Woven in Maritime History - Samson Rope Reporter_Woven in...Woven in Maritime History ... Grounding...
38 Maritime Reporter & Engineering News
HISTORY MARITIME REPORTER’S 70TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION
The history of rope making is as longas that of the human race. Archeologiststell us it was one of the first tools creat-ed from various grasses, reeds, and ani-mal sinew. These rudimentary ropeswere used for fishing, hunting, shelterbuilding, agriculture, and the domesti-cation of animals. For millennia, thosewho used rope were the ones who madeit. The mechanization of the rope-mak-ing process did not begin until the num-ber of sailing ships grew to the pointthat the demand for ropes outstrippedsupply. Among many cordage compa-nies to answer the demand for rope, afew stand out as influential and innova-tive in the industry.
As the machinery was developed,companies were founded that wouldinfluence the cordage industry well intothe 21st century. In 1816, GladdingBraided Products was founded to supplyrope to the clipper ship market, andlater, in 1869, Hooven Allison appearedon the scene, having pioneered the ropeindustry during the Civil War. In 1878,the J.P. Tolman Company was foundedin Massachusetts, and the AmericanManufacturing Company (AMCO) wasfounded in Brooklyn in 1889. All ofthese companies survived independent-ly of the National Cordage Trust that
threatened to monopolize the industryuntil the Sherman Antitrust Act waspassed in 1890.
A significant milestone was achievedin rope technology when the TolmanCompany began incorporating rein-forcement cores in braided sash cords in1888. The company was then renamedSamson Cordage Works.
Synthetic Fibers: A New EraUntil World War II, ropes were made
from natural fibers, including manila,sisal, and hemp. The strongest of thesewas manila, a fiber that comes from theAbaca plant and grows in the PhilippineIslands. Sisal is a cheaper, coarser, andweaker fiber that grows in Mexico,Brazil, and Cuba. The quest for a syn-thetic fiber began when the U.S. lost thePhilippine Islands to Japan duringWWII. Dupont responded by develop-ing a nylon filament that was used inflak jackets and parachute shrouds.Nylon proved to be a good fiber for pro-ducing ropes. AMCO and its subsidiarySt. Louis Cordage Mills took advantageof the new technology by introducingthe first synthetic 3-strand nylon rope in1948. The strength of this new rope was2.5 times that of manila and 5% lightersize for size. Nylon did not rot, mildew,
or deteriorate when exposed to waterlike natural fibers. However, it did haveseveral drawbacks. It was expensive,had a very high elongation rate, andwould not hold up well when exposed tofrictional heat. Polyester was the nextfiber to be used for rope, proving to beas strong as nylon but with lower elon-gation, better abrasion resistance, andhigher melting temperatures.
Innovations Rapidly Advance RopeTechnology
Innovations through the 20th Centuryrapidly advanced the rope industry asdevelopments and discoveries weremade.• In the early 50s, AMCO producedthe first ropes from polypropylene.These ropes were half the weight ofmanila at twice the strength. They lastedlonger and were as economical as mani-la. The fibers could be produced on siteand the ropes could be made any color.This was the death warrant for manilaand sisal fibers.• In 1952, Herzog Rope was estab-lished in Richmond, B.C., Canada.Specializing in ropes for the Northwestfishing industry, Herzog developedPermaflex lead line for the seine indus-try in 1989.
Rope Technology
Woven in Maritime History
Samson Cordage Works at the Home Beautiful Exposition, Mechanics' Hall, Boston, Mass., April 15-29, 1922.
February 4, 1959Keel laying of USS Enterprise, firstnuclear powered aircraft carrier, NewportNews, VA
June 1959Launching of USS George Washington(SSBN-598), first nuclear powered fleetballistic missile submarine, at Groton, CT
June 1959Opening of the St. Lawrence Seaway
July 1959Launching of nuclear-powered vesselSavannah at New York Shipbuilding Co.
January, 1960Bathyscaph Trieste descends to deepestpart of the ocean, Marianas Trench
October 26, 1960Passing of noted naval architect GeorgeG. Sharp at age 86
November 1961Commissioning of USS Enterprise(CVA(N)-65), the Navy's first nuclear-pow-ered aircraft carrier. Vessel built atNewport News.
April 1969The first Offshore Technology Conference(OTC).
November 1971Passing of the memorable Vice AdmiralEmory S. “Jerry” Land, the shipbuild-ing "czar" of World War II, at age 92
October 1973Record transpacific voyage by SL-7 classcontainer ship Sea-Land Commerce at33.26 knots
November 1975Sinking of ore carrier Edmund Fitzgeraldin Lake Superior with the loss of all 29crew members
1976Tankers Batillus and Bellamya, of SociétéMaritime Shell, built at St. Nazaire; were,at over 553,000 dwt, the largesttankers ever constructed.
1977President JimmyCarter signs a treatywith Panama, agree-ing to turn overthe Panama Canaland the surrounding zone to Panama bythe year 2000.
June 1977Delivery of LNG Aquarius, first of eight125,000-m³ LNG carriers from GeneralDynamics Quincy yard
1984The Navy demonstrates organometallicpolymer antifouling bottom paints in thefleet with eight years of servicefree of fouling.
1985Robert Ballard teamdiscovers Titanic wreck.
March 1989Grounding of tanker ExxonValdez on Bligh Reef, Prince
Photo Credit: ACP
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January 2009 www.marinelink.com 39
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A large braidertoday.
• In 1957, Samson Cordage Works developed thefirst synthetic double-braided rope. This patented con-struction produced ropes far stronger, more durable,and easier to handle than the 3-strand twisted ropesmade since ancient times. • In 1972, Samson Cordage Works cooperated withOcean Systems, Inc., also of Richmond B.C., Canada,to develop the first double-braid synthetic-fiber ropeused to moor an oil tanker to a loading buoy located inthe North Sea. It was through this cooperation thatSamson Cordage Works and Ocean Systems united tobecome Samson Ocean Systems.• In 1992, AMCO achieved another milestone whenthey perfected the co-extrusion process and produced afiber that was 30% stronger and three times more abra-sion-resistant than polypropylene.
With the advent of high-modulus polyethylene(HMPE) fiber, rope making was primed for yet anoth-er era. High-modulus polyethylene provides thestrongest synthetic ropes in the world. The use oflightweight HMPE ropes revolutionized the industryagain, significantly affecting a multitude of industries.The marine industry in particular has benefited fromhigh-performance ropes that have increased crew safe-ty, and made operations more efficient and cost effec-tive. Hooven Allison continues to make natural fiberrope and synthetic cordage products, and GladdingBraided Products is also still in business, catering tomarine and military industries. In 1993, Samson OceanSystems, Herzog Rope, and AMCO merged to becomethe worldwide leader in high-performance cordage.
Now known simply as Samson, the company's trade-mark depicting Samson slaying a lion is the oldestactive registered trademark in the United States. In1996, Samson developed AmSteel-Blue usingDyneema to construct a rope that is, size for size, 1/7ththe weight and as strong as wire rope.
The Future of RopeToday, rope making is a science deepened by
research, development, and testing. The world of high-performance ropes is ever expanding. Samson contin-ues to pioneer new products for the marine industry,which include the first synthetic rope to exceed 3.3million pounds in breaking strength, a line of productsthat provide higher coeffciency of friction for bettergrip, a reduced-recoil rope, and a fire-resistant towingpendant. Anchored solidly by its history, rope technol-ogy has a long future.
Contributed by Merry Schnell, Samson
William Sound. This event resulted inbroad changes to the design of oil-carry-ing vessels.
1989Aluminum anodes are first installed onsubmarines, saving 4 tons in weight andcost savings of about $600,000 perboat.
July 1991Arleigh Burke (DDG 51) is commissionedat Norfolk, VA.
1993Light-off of the intercooled recuperated(ICR) gas turbine at the Royal Navy'sAdmiralty Test House in England.
September 1993Society of Naval Architects andMarine Engineers (SNAME)Celebrates its centennial
anniversary.
May 1997A "Mast Stepping" is held onboard theArthur W. Radford (DD 968), which is theU.S. Navy's first advanced hybrid com-posite structure.
August 2006 Delivery of Emma Maersk, first containership of greater than 12,000 TEU.
Sources:www.history.navy.mil; William du Barry Thomas, Society of NavalArchitects & Marine Engineers, NASA."Where the Fleet Begins: A History of the David Taylor ResearchCenter", by Rodney P. Carlisle
A large braider,circa 1950.
Wheeler Shipyards,Inc. in Brooklyn,NY built 230 83-ft.U.S. Coast Guardcutters, 72 ofwhich wer sta-tioned in Poole,England for the D-Day invasion. TheBrooklyn yardclosed at the end of WWII, and the Whitestone yard (pictured above)in 1948 when the Wheeler Yacht Co., Inc. was opened at the site ofthe Dawn Boat Works at Clason Point, the Bronx, where they resumedyacht building.
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