BS ISO 13728:2020

What is ISO 13728 about?  

ISO 13728 is an International Standard on ships and marine technology that discusses specifications for Panama chocks used for mooring and towing purposes. 

ISO 13728 specifies the types, nominal sizes, dimensions, and materials, as well as construction, manufacturing, and marking requirements, for Panama chocks installed to lead the mooring and towing rope of a ship. 

ISO 13728 is intended for ships passing through the Panama Canal, which are normally assisted through the locks by locomotives using steel towing wires and/or by tugboats. These chocks meet normal mooring requirements and Panama Canal requirements; they are suitable for mooring vessels inside the Panama Canal locks. 

Who is ISO 13728 for? 

ISO 13728 on for Panama chocks is applicable for: 

• Marine industries 
• Manufacturers of Panama chocks 
• Shipbuilding and naval products manufacturers 
• Vessel manufacturers 
• Design engineers  

Why should you use ISO 13728?  

Panama chocks are used specifically for the guidance of rope mooring lines on board a large ship or vessel. They meet normal mooring requirements and Panama Canal requirements. Making the choice regarding the right chock depends primarily on the size of the vessel and the diameter of the lines. 

The guidelines provided in ISO 13728 can help you with the right selection, based on the type, size, and materials for Panama chocks so as to meet normal mooring and towing requirements. 

ISO 13728 provides guidelines about inspecting surfaces in contact with the ropes thereby ensuring that they are free from surface roughness or irregularities which could cause damage to the ropes due to abrasion. Specifications on the external coating for anti-corrosion protective finish are provided in ISO 13728. 

As a manufacturer, you could adopt ISO 13728 ensure that the chocks for mooring and towing purposes adhere to the specifications as per your application, for optimal performance and durability.  As a result, you can minimize rope wear that could prevent risk of breaking or failure, while increasing safety and load balancing. 

You can demonstrate the reliability of your products and build trust in their use throughout the marine supply chain by adhering to ISO 13728. 

What’s changed since the last update?  

BS ISO 13728:2020 supersedes BS ISO 13728:2012. BS ISO 13728:2020 includes some technical changes with respect to BS ISO 13728:2012. These include: 

• The scope has been reworded; a note concerning the Panama chock for the Panamax plus and neo-Panamax vessels have been added 
• The definition of SWL (3.1) has been reworded 
• Technical information on fem has been added in a.3.2