Four Brothers Rope (FBR) participated in the Cordage Institute (CI) Fall 2026 Technical Meeting, held October 6–7 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Dr. Chiate Rafael Chou, FBR’s Chief Technology Officer and chair of CI’s Braided Ropes Subcommittee, represented the company and chaired a technical discussion on CI 1312.
The meeting brought together rope manufacturers, fiber suppliers and technical specialists from North America, Europe and Asia to review product standards, test methods and safety considerations for fiber rope applications.
Rope Standards and System Safety
Dr. Chou led discussions on CI 1312, Nylon (Polyamide) Fiber Rope, 12-Strand Single Braid Construction. He also contributed to technical exchanges on soft shackles, reduced recoil risk ropes and system safety evaluation, including rope testing methods and the assessment of energy within rope systems.
FBR will continue contributing to standards research on reduced recoil risk systems and the effects of heat exposure on rope performance. These topics connect material behavior and product testing with safety considerations in practical applications.
Bringing Operational Experience to MEG5
A key topic was the development of the fifth edition of the Oil Companies International Marine Forum’s (OCIMF) Mooring Equipment Guidelines (MEG5). At OCIMF’s invitation, CI is gathering technical input from rope manufacturers to support the revision, drawing on both manufacturing knowledge and operational experience.
FBR took part in the related working group discussions and will gather feedback from customers on mooring practices, operational challenges and guidance needs. This input will contribute to CI’s consolidated feedback to the OCIMF working group, helping the revision address issues encountered in everyday mooring operations.
Connecting Standards Work Across Markets
FBR also shared updates on standards development and revision in China’s fiber, rope and netting sectors. These updates form part of the CI Technical Committee’s ongoing exchanges, alongside reports on ISO standards projects.
Through its subcommittee work and technical collaboration, FBR contributes experience from rope manufacturing, testing and application support to international standards discussions. This exchange also helps inform the company’s product development and technical support for customers using synthetic ropes in demanding environments.