Technical and economic analysis on the using of Hibiscus Tiliaceus (Waru) and Boehmeria Nivea (Rami) fibres for fishing vessel mooring rope

Mooring rope of fishing boat made of synthetic fibre materials such as polypropylene or nylon can bring detrimental impacts to the environment as it is arduous to degrade. Natural fibre rope can potentially substitute the commonly-used undegradable mooring line to prevent further chain impacts. This paper aims to technically and economically analyse the tensile strength of mooring ropes made of two natural fibres, Hybiscus Tiliaceus (Waru) and Boehmeria Nivea (Rami), and to compare them with the former - conventional material manufactured rope. Tensile test, according to ASTM D3822, is performed to measure the tensile strength of the natural fibre ropes twisted into three different diameters (12 mm, 16 mm, 20 mm). Specimens are immersed in seawater for several weeks before testing. As a benchmark, this research examines unimmersed ones. The result shows that immersed Waru fibre ropes with three different diameters are 32.15 MPa, 27.10 MPa, 23.94 MPa, respectively; while for Rami fibre ropes are 37.58 MPa, 29.56 MPa, 24.31 MPa. Waru fibre rope is the most economical one if compared to Rami and synthetic fibre ropes. The manufacturing of mooring rope made of Waru fibres can save 19.4%, 11.5%, and 29.7% for each diameter variation, respectively.