WO2013066190A1

WO2013066190A1 - System and method for terminating a rope or a hawser

Info

Publication number: WO2013066190A1
Application number: PCT/NO2012/050212
Authority: WO
Inventors: Paul Steffen KLEPPE; Asbjørn KLEPPE; Ole Bertil GISKEØDEGÅRD
Original assignee: Ulmatec Engineering As
Priority date: 2011-11-03
Filing date: 2012-10-31
Publication date: 2013-05-10

Abstract

The publication discloses a connecting means (10) for a rope (11) to be connected to or jointed with an end of a another rope (11') or a structure. The connection means (10) comprises termination means (13) intended to be fixed to an end of the rope (11) and a detachable locking means for locking the termination means (13) to a termination means connected to an adjoining rope (11') or the structure. At least an end of the rope (11) is split into at least two rope units (11") having a smaller diameter than the rope (11), each rope unit (11") being provided with at an independent, separate loop (12) forming an integral part of said rope (11). Moreover, said termination means (13) comprises a body being provided with at least one securing bolt (15), configured to extend through each of said at least two loops (12) at the end of the rope units (11").

Description

SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR TERMINATING A ROPE OR A HAWSER

Technical Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a method and a system for jointing a rope, and in particular, but not exclusively a heavy duty rope, to an end of a another rope or a structure, comprising termination means intended to be fixed to an end of the rope and a detachable locking means for locking the termination means to a termination means connected to the adjoining rope or the structure. Background for the invention

As part of offshore exploration of hydrocarbons, it may be necessary to lower or hoist heavy structures down to or up from the sea bed, some time at very deep water. As a consequence it may be necessary to join several length of robes in order to reach the required depth.

For linking or joining two ropes it is common practice to use shackles or clevises together rope ends being provided with an eye or an loop equipped with thimbles having a concave outer surface, configured to receive a rope and a correspondingly a convex inner surface configured to be in contact with the shackle or the shackle bolt or pin. For this purpose the end of the rope is formed with a spliced eye extending around in the groove formed by the concave outer surface of the thimble.

For a looped end of a rope, with or without a thimble, the load acting along the outer periphery of the loop in the region of the contact surface with shackle in a joint will be much higher than the load and forces acting along the inner periphery of the loop in the same region. As a consequence the load capacity for the rope system of such type must include a load reduction of the rope capacity up to 20% when designing and dimensioning such rope system as a safety precaution.

WO 2005/054710 discloses a rope termination, comprising a plurality of load bearing cores, each core being spliced to itself at its end to form a connecting eye. The connecting eye of respective cores are arranged around designated load pins which extend between load plates whereby load is transmitted from the rope into the plates through a plurality of said load pins. The rope disclosed is covered by a cover, which during the splicing operation has been retracted to allow access to the cores to be spliced. Upon completed splicing, and as a part of the completion process the cover is milked back over each splice. The eyes are then placed on a core in a mould which is the filled with an encapsulating material. This material solidifies to form a solid body which, upon removal of the mould cores leaves eye openings.

JP 63120941 describes a method for providing a high strength joint of two ropes where the ends of a fiber bundle is introduced into a housing with a tapered cross sectional are and where the inserted fiber bundle is radially enlarged at its end in radial direction outwards by inserting a wedge member into the central portion of the fiber bundle whereupon the end with the wedge is filled with a plastic material and allowed to solidify.

US 5,904,438 describes a method for terminating a fiber rope utilizing a device of the type which has a housing member having a frusto-conical bore in which an end portion of the rope can be wedgedly retained. The end portion of the rope has a reinforcing device incorporated therein in order to increase the tensile load capacity of the rope end portion. The reinforcing device may include a fiber type material, a length of fiber rope or a resinous compound, applied to the fibers of the rope end portion.

CN 201 106658 describes a fast steel cable terminal for connecting steel cables. A coniform terminal consists of a terminal body with a coniform recess and a coniform locking element. The wire end is arranged around the coniform locking element and a tension in the cable in longitudinal direction will pull the coniform locking element and the wire in a direction where the coniform shape of the recess will cause a locking effect with respect to the coniformed locking element and the wire.

CA 1 197982 discloses a universal joint for connecting ropes for use in fishing. Two U-rods or shackles connect two ropes together. The two U-rods are supported by a spindle so as to be rotatable relative to each other. At least one of the two U- rods is supported oscillatably by the spindle via a pin mounted detachably in a direction usually perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the spindle.

It is a need for a connecting and/or load holding and/or locking and/or termination system which is practical and flexible in use; which is cost effective both in fabrication and in use; which may easily be adapted to new use or use in large and heavy duty operations at an offshore location at very large depth, where the possibility for performing maintenance of the termination(s) of the rope at a fabrication plant or offshore is enhanced; which easily may be rolled onto or off a rope drum; where the rope dimensions are reduces and/or where up to the entire load capacity of the rope may be exploited. Further, there is a need for a terminating system suitable for a large varieties of operations. Summary of the Invention

An object of the present invention is to provide a rope ternnination where the possibilities of controlling the ternnination and/or allowing maintenance of the termination is enhanced.

An object of the present invention is to provide a connection or joint for large synthetic fiber ropes of large diameter, preferably provided with a braided cover, reducing the strain and stresses appearing in the cable fibers, at least in the joint and/or in the end termination of the rope.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a joint and/or a termination of a rope which enhances the applicability of the rope and which may be used as a multi-purpose rope.

An object of the present invention is to provide a solution which enhances the process of performing jointing or disconnection of rope ends during a for example heavy duty lowering or hoisting operation.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a connecting mechanism which reduces the time required for providing the jointing, connecting or disconnecting of two ropes or a rope and a structure.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a termination means which may be provided with exterior surfaces or exterior parts suited for attachment of fixed or replaceable tools or means for auxiliary functions or the like.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a termination means configured in such way that wear and tear on the rope and its terminations are eliminated or at least substantially reduced.

Another object is to design the rope and the fine particles, dirt, living organisms or the like are prevented from entering the terminal or the rope in the region of the terminal .

Another object of the present invention is to provide a solution securing the position of the rope cover at any time during lifting winding onto or unwinding off a storage drum.

The objects are achieved by a termination means as further defined by the independent claim, while various embodiments and alternatives are defined in the dependent claims.

According to the present invention there is a system for terminating a rope or a hawser, comprising termination means intended to be fixed to an end of an adjoining rope or to a construction. Said end of the rope is spliced into at least one independent, separate loop forming an integral part of said rope, and that said termination means comprises a body being provided with at least one securing bolt which is configured to extend through of said at least one loop, thus forming a fixing point for the rope end. One end of the termination means is provided with an aperture through which the rope extends. Moreover, the termination means and/or the rope or hawser are provided with means for securely preventing an end of a braided sheathing arranged around the rope or hawser from moving in axial direction with respect to the rope.

According to one embodiment, the braided sheathing is configured to be fixed to the termination means and/or to the end closure. Moreover, an end of each ribbon forming the braided sheathing to be locked and/or fixed is provided with an looped end, looped around a ring, the ring being intended to be retained by end closure.

To this respect it should be appreciated that the sheathing or protective coating or hose surrounding the rope may be knitted, hackled or formed in any way providing a sheathing or jacket surrounding the rope/strands of the rope.

The ring may preferably be securely retained and fixed by a cradle shaped recess provided on the termination means and/or the end closure. Such recess may be arranged on a surface of the end closure intended to be inside a cavity of the termination means when in assembled state. Further, the recess may preferably be configured to extend along an external circumference of the end closure.

According to the invention, there is also a method for attaching a termination means to an end of a rope or a hawser comprising at least one strand, where an end of said at least strand is spliced so as to form an independent, separate loop forming an integral part of said rope. Further, a sheathing is established by braided a number of ribbons around the rope or hawser, and the independent loop(s) are removably attached to a bolt inside the termination means. A loop is established at one end of each ribbon, the ribbon loop being configured around a preferably closed ring, and thereupon attaching the ring with the ribbon loops to locking surface(s) provided on the termination means.

The ring may preferably be attached to locking surface(s) provided on an end closure of the termination means, the end closure preferably being made by two interlockable parts configured to be fixed to a lower end of the termination means.

According to another embodiment of the invention, it is provided a the connecting means for a rope, designed to be connected to or jointed with an end of a another rope or a structure. The connecting means comprises a termination means intended to be fixed to an end of the rope and a detachable locking means for locking or releasing the termination means with respect to a termination means connected to the adjoining rope or the structure. According to the invention, at least one end of the rope is split into at least two rope units having a smaller diameter than the rope, each rope unit being provided with at an independent, separate loop forming an integral part of said rope. Said termination means comprises a body being provided with at least one securing bolt, configured to extend through each of said at least two loops at the end of the rope units.

The termination means may be provided with a housing comprising a hollow space or cavity, provided with an opening at one end, while the opposite end of the termination means may be provided with detachable connecting means for connection to an another rope or to a structure.

According to an embodiment of the invention, also the end of said at least another rope may preferably be provided with at least two rope units, where the said another rope also is terminated by a corresponding termination means with at least one securing bolt configured to extend through each of said at least two loops at said end of the adjoining rope.

Said at least one securing bolt may preferably have an oblong, more or less oval cross sectional area, the at least one bolt being oblong in an longitudinal direction of the rope to be locked by the at least one bolt, such solution being advantageous for ropes consisting of only one strand and correspondingly being provided with one end loop. Alternatively the bolt may have a rounded upper surface to form the contact interface with the inner surface of the loop(s) and with sides either being straight or being inclined towards the opposite end of the bolt.

Alternatively, the bolt may have a circular or semi-circular interface surface with the inner surface of the loop(s).

Further, the termination means may preferably comprise two or more bolts and the rope end(s) may comprise a corresponding number of loops, the number of bolts of the termination means and preferably also the corresponding loops at one end of a rope may be an uneven number, such as 3, 5, 7, or any even number, dependent on number of strands of the rope or hawser.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the bolts, and consequently the loops at least at one end of the rope, are configured in alternating lateral rows of even and uneven numbers rows, displaced in the longitudinal direction of the rope(s).

Further, according to an embodiment, the securing bolts may be positioned inside the housing forming the main body of the termination means, said housing being provided with an opening extending in longitudinal direction of the termination means and being configured in such way that the ends of the rope units with the various loops are allowed to enter into the housing through said opening for engagement with said securing bolt(s) . The securing bolt(s) may preferably be retractable from the termination means through opening in a side wall of the termination means. Further, said termination means may at an opposite end be provided with a locking means for interlocking said locking means with a locking means on a structure or at the end of the rope to be interconnected with the rope.

Further, the housing and/or the opening may have a rectangular or non- rectangular cross sectional area.

According to a further embodiment of the present invention, more than one rope unit may be connected to the same securing bolt.

More over, the termination means may be formed of two separate units which are detachably locked to each other.

Short Description of the Drawings

Several embodiments of the invention shall be described in detail below, referring to the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 shows schematically a side view in perspective of two termination means according to the invention in an interconnected state;

Figure 2 shows schematically a vertical section through the interconnected unit shown in Figure 1 ;

Figure 3 shows schematically a vertical section through an embodiment of another termination means, provided with an end closure;

Figure 4 shows schematically a vertical section through two interlinked terminating means as disclosed in Figure 3;

Figure 5 shows schematically a vertical view of the two interlinked terminating means shown in Figure 4.

Figure 6 shows schematically a view of a one strand rope with a spliced loop end and a braded cover comprising a number of strand braides, the ends of which are terminated with a loop threaded on to a locking ring; and

Figure 7a to 7c show three different embodiments for locking the cover to the termination means according to the present invention.

Detailed Description of the Drawings

In the following part of the description various embodiments are disclosed, wherein the same reference number is used for identical or similar features.

Moreover, in the Figures the strands 25 are shown schematically with a reduced thickness compared with the actual dimensions of the strands 25, such reduction being done for the sake of clarity. Figure 1 shows schematically a side view in perspective of two termination means 13 according to the invention in an interconnected state, while Figure 2 shows schematically a vertical section through the interconnected unit shown in Figure 1 . The termination means 13 comprises a housing 16 which contains an internally arranged cavity or an open, hollow space 14, the space 14 being provided with an opening 17 at one end. The housing 16 of the terminator 13 shown has a cylindrical shape with a cross sectional area. It should be appreciated, however, that the shape may be rectangular or quadratic. At the opposite end of the housing 16 or terminator 13, the housing 16 or terminator 13 is provided with two ears or brackets 19, spaced apart and projecting out from the housing 16. Each bracket 19 is provided with an axially aligned bore 21 (not shown in Figure 1 ), intended to receive a locking bolt 18. In order for example to interconnect or link two terminators 13,13' together, a link or an intermediate bar or connector 20, the thickness of which being adapted to the distance between the two ears or bracket(s) 19,19'. Further the intermediate connector 20 is also provided with bore(s) 20 (not shown in Figure 1 ). The bore(s) 20 are positioned in such way that the bore(s) 20 will be axially aligned with the pair(s) of bores 21 in the ears or brackets 19.

In lateral direction of the housing 16, inside the cavity or inner space 14 of the housing 16, five locking bolts 15 are arranged. According to the embodiment shown, the bolts 15 have a more or less oval shape. The function and purpose of these bolts 15 will be described below in connection with Figure 3. One end of the bolts 15 are rigidly or removably fixed to the side wall of the housing and the length of the bolts 15 are longer than the cross sectional dimension of the hollow space 14 of the housing. The other end of the bolts 15 are configured to enter corresponding openings 22 in the opposite wall section of the housing 16, securing a rigid and safe locking of the two housing units when in assembled state with the loops 12 at the end of the rope 1 1 in proper position with respect to the bolts 15. In such way both ends of the bolts will be supported by the wall of the housing, securing a strong and robust connection.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the rope loops 12 are attached or fixed to the termination means 13 by retracting the bolts 15 from their positions inside the housing 16, inserting the ends of the rope sections with the loops 12 into the space 14 of the housing 16 and re-entering the bolts 15 through the openings 22 of the housing 16 walls and through the corresponding loop12 of a rope section. For the embodiment shown in Figure 3, the two longest rope sections are inserted first, attached to the inmost bolts 15 in the manner indicated above. Thereupon, the three shorter rope sections are inserted into the space 14 through the opening 17, and attached by means of the re-entry of the corresponding tree outer locking bolts 15. In order to secure correct length of the various rope sections and their corresponding loops 12, the rope ends are pre-fabricated, the loops 12 spliced and the length of the various rope sections being configured and dimensioned by using a jig having the same configuration as the termination means 13, i.e. a jig having the same dimensions and geometry of the housing 16 and the bolts 15 as the termination means 13 and where the lateral and longitudinal distance between the various bolts 15 being in conformity with that of the termination means 13. The bolts 15 may be securely locked to the housing 16 by means for example of locking plates (not shown), locking pins (not shown), spot welding, or the like. If and when a rope 1 1 is to be replaced or substituted, the bolts 15 are removed or released and pulled out from their seating in the housing 16 walls, whereupon the rope sections may be pulled out and removed. A new rope 1 1 may then be replaced in a manner as described above.

Alternatively, the housing 16 may be split in two halves, wherein one end of each bolt 15 being rigidly fixed to an inner surface of on half, and where the length of the bolts 15 are longer than the lateral distance of the space 14, the opposite, adjacent wall of the other half of the housing 16 preferably being provided with opening or bore, into which each free end of a bolt 15 may be inserted, thereby providing a support for the bolts 15 at both side of the space 14. In such case the two halves may for example be interlocked by means of bolts and/or interlocking, surfaces

According to the embodiment shown five bolts 15 and correspondingly five loops at the end of the rope 1 1 are used. According to the configuration shown, the bolts are arranged in two rows, the first row, i.e. the row in the proximity of the opening comprises according to the embodiment shown three bolts arranged in line in lateral direction, while the next row, i.e. at the inner end of the space 14 comprises two bolts 15, aligned in lateral direction. By a configuration as shown in Figures 1 and 2, space for the rope sections with loops is provided between the various neighboring bolts 15.

Figure 3 shows a vertical section through one terminator 13, indicating a synthetic fiber rope 1 1 , split at one end into several thinner rope elements or strands 25, all provided with a closed, preferably spiced loop 12. Each closed loop 12 is connected at one end to the bolts 15 arranged in transverse direction inside the housing 16 of the termination means 13 according to the present invention. As indicated in the Figure the terminator 15 is configured in such way that ample space 14 between the bolts are provided, making it possible to support and fix the loops and providing sufficient space between the bolts for the ropes, avoiding the possibility of wear or tear between adjacent ropes. The rope 10 disclosed comprises five strands 25 arranged in a twisted manner (not shown), the rope 1 1 being provided with a braided cover or sheathing 24 maid of braided ribbons 26. Further, the terminating means 10 is also provided with an end closure 23. The end closure 23 is attached to the paned end of the terminating means 10, the end cover 23 being provided with a centrally arranged opening adapted to receive the rope 1 1 and the braided cover 24, filling the opening 17 completely so that particles, dirt or living organisms or the like are prevented from entering the internal cavity or space 17 of the termination means 10.

It should be appreciated that the neck 31 of the opening 17 mat be given a rounded shape, preferably with a large radius in order to reduce the wear and tear effect on the rope or hawser 1 1 when the terminator 13 is bent relative to the rope or hawser 1 1 .

Further, according to the embodiment shown in Figures 3 to 7, also the upper part of each terminator is given a conical surface in order to avoid any abrupt surfaces imposing detrimental tear or friction on the rope or hawser when for example rolled onto or off a drum.

Figure 4 shows schematically a vertical section through two interlinked terminating means 10 as disclosed in Figure 3, while Figure 5 shows schematically a vertical view of the two interlinked terminating means shown in Figure 5. The elements used for interlinking the two terminators 13 are the same as discussed in respect to Figures 1 and 2. Further, as disclosed in Figure 4, the end closure 23 is provided with locking and clamping means for locking the position of the sheathing with respect to the rope or hawser 1 1 and also with respect to the end closure 23- The locking and clamping means will be discussed in detail below in conjunction with Figures 7a to 7c. It should be appreciated that the end cover 23 in operation is locked to the remaining part of the terminator! 3 by means of locking pins or securing bolts (not shown), connecting the end closure 23 to the terminating body 13 in a detachable manner.

Figure 6 shows schematically a view of a one strand rope 1 1 with a spliced loop endl 2 and a braded cover or sheathing 24, comprising a number of strand ribbons 26, the ends of which are terminated with a ribbon loop 28 threaded on to a locking ring 29, only a part of which being shown in the Figure. The ribbons 26 are braded to a dense and tightly braded sheathing forming a substitution for steel eyelets and being dense so as to prevent intrusion of sand or dirt into the strands 25 forming the main parts of the rope or hawsers 1 1 . The sheathing may in a conventional way be provided with a so called "fairing" for example for contributing to the stability of the motion of the rope or hawser 1 1 during movement through the water and to reduce the drag factor.

The strands 25 may be for example be made of HMTE-fibers, for example Dyneema™ -fibers or the like, while the sheath ribbon 26 may be made of polyester fibers, which is very resistant to sunlight. Aramid fibers, such as Kevlar™ may also be used, such fibers being heat resistant. The sheath ribbon24 may for example be woven together by with six parallel, twisted fiber parts. Each such twisted fiber part may be formed of a number of fibers and the sheath ribbon is held together by transverse inwrought threads. The threads mat\y be very hard-wearing. If the thread should burst, the construction of the sheathing will prevent it from loosen. This is because ribbon crosses ribbon and mutually lock one another. By threading the ribbon loops 28 on to the locking ring at is terminal end, the sheathing is also prevented from sliding down from the end cover 23. Said ribbon loops 28 may be sewn The locking ring 27 may for example be formed of a rolled steel ring of spring quality.

Figure 7a to 7c show three different embodiments for locking the sheathing 24 to the termination means 13 according to the present invention. The means for locking the sheathing 24 to the terminator 13 in a sealed manner is the locking ring 27 supporting the loops 28 at the end of the sheathing 24 and corresponding annually arranged recesses or cradles 30,30', 30" around the opening 17, coaxially positioned with respect to such opening 17.

As shown in the Figures the free end of the end closure 23 is provided with a frustrum of a cone shape and the annular shape of the centrally arranged opening 17 is provided with a rounded edge or neck 31 , reducing the wear and tear on the rope or hawser 1 1 in this wear and tear prone part of the end termination 13.

Figure 7a shows an embodiment where the cradle or recess 30 for the locking ring 29 is centrally arranged around and in close vicinity with the opening 17, arranged on top of the annular neck or edge 31 , the shape of which being rounded, providing proper support for the ring 29.

Figure 7b shows another embodiment where the annular cradle or recess 30' is arranged on a top surface of the end closure 23, the cradle or recess 30' having a semi-cylindrical shape and being co-axially arranged with the opening 17.

Figure 7c shows a third embodiment where the annular cradle or recess 30" is arranged on the exterior, vertical surface of the end closure 17, the cradle having a semi-circular shape and extending around the periphery of the end closure 17. While the embodiments disclosed in Figures 7a and 7b relates to a solution where the sheathing 24 is terminated inside the end terminator 13, the rope 1 1 and the sheathing 24 sealing the entrance into the interior of the end terminator 13, Figure 7c shows a solution where the sheathing 24 is terminating on the outside of the end terminator 1 1 and the end closure 23. To terminate the strand ribbons 26 in a proper way, strand ribbons 26 may be located in a number of grooves in the conical surface of the end closure.

It should be appreciated that although the terminator is shown having a cylindrical shape, the cross sectional area of the terminator may be square or rectangular, oval or formed as a droplet, or given any other suitable shape, without deviating form the inventive idea. Preferably the surface of the bolt being designed to lie in contact with the inner end surface of the loop should be shaped in such way that the possibility of unintentional cutting, tearing or wearing off is eliminated or at least substantially reduced. It should also be appreciated that the longitudinal axis of such oval or droplet formed bolts may be configured such that the longitudinal axis coincide with the exit direction of the rope element out of the housing when subjected to a designed tension in the rope.

It should also be appreciated that the free end of the terminator 13, i.e. the end having the opening 17 may have a frusto-conical shape as shown in Figures 1 and 2, a curved end surface or a plane end surface. Further, the inner surface of the opening may be rounded so as to eliminate or at least substantially reduce the possibilities for a wear and tear effect on the rope 12 extending through the opening.

Further, although a rope with five loops and a terminator with dive bolts are disclosed, it should be appreciated that the number of strands of the rope or hawser and correspondingly the number of loops and bolts may be one or more. It should also be appreciated that the number of bolts may be less than the number of loops at an end of a rope. In such case a bolt may be used as securing points for more than one loop of the rope. In such latter case the terminator may even be provided with one single bolt.

It should also be appreciated that the configuration of the bolts inside the space 14 of the housing may be any suitable configuration, not limited to the configuration disclosed in Figure 1 -3.

Moreover, the termination means may be provided with surfaces, attachment means and/or exterior parts or surfaces suited for attachment of fixed or replaceable tools or means for auxiliary functions or the like. Typical areas for positioning such attachment means may be the free end surface of the termination means and/or the surfaces of the brackets 19.

Claims

1 . System for terminating a rope or a hawser (1 1 ), comprising termination means (13) intended to be fixed to an end of an adjoining rope (1 1 ') or to a construction, where said end of the rope (1 1 ) is spliced into at least one independent, separate loop (12) forming an integral part of said rope (1 1 ), and that said termination means (13) comprises a body being provided with at least one securing bolt (15) configured to extend through of said at least one loop (12), thus forming a fixing point for the rope end,

c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that one end of the termination means (13) is provided with an aperture through which the rope (1 1 ) extends and the termination means (13) and/or the rope or hawser (1 1 ) are provided with means for securely preventing an end of a braided sheathing or jacket (24) arranged around the rope or hawser (1 1 ) from moving in axial direction with respect to the rope (1 1 ).

2. System according to claim 1 , wherein the braided sheathing or jacket (14) is configured to be fixed to the termination means (12) and/or to the end closure (23).

3. System according to claim 1 or 2, wherein an end of each ribbon (26) forming the braided sheathing or jacket (24) to be locked and/or fixed is provided with an looped end, looped around a ring (27), the ring (27) being intended to be retained by end closure (23).

4. System according to one of the claims 1 to 3, wherein the ring (27) is securely retained and fixed by a cradle shaped recess (30, 30', 30") provided on the

termination means (13) and/or the end closure(23).

5. System according to claim 4, wherein the recess (30,30', 30") is arranged on a surface of the end closure (23) intended to be inside a cavity of the termination means (13) when in assembled state.

6. System according to claim 4, wherein the recess is configured to extend along an external circumference if the end closure (23).

7. System according to one of the claims 1 to 6, wherein the termination means (13) is provided with a housing (16) comprising a hollow space (14) being provided with an opening (17) at one end, while the opposite end of the termination means (13) being provided with detachable connecting means (18) for connection to an another rope (1 1 ') or to a structure.

8. System according to one of the claims 1 to 7, wherein the securing bolt(s) (15,15') are retractable from the termination means (13,13') through opening in a side wall of the termination means (13,13').

9. System according to one of the claims 1 to 8, wherein said termination means(13,13') at an opposite end is provided with a locking means (18) for interlocking said locking means (18) with a locking means on a structure or at the end of the rope (1 1 ) to be interconnected with the rope (1 1 ').

10. System (10) according to one of the claims 1 to 9, wherein more than one rope unit (1 1 ,1 1 ') may be connected to the same securing bolt (15,15').

1 1 . System (10) according to one of the claim 1 to10, wherein the termination means (10,10') may be formed of two separate units which are detachably locked to each other.

12. Method for attaching a termination means (13) to an end of a rope or a hawser (1 ) comprising at least one strand, where an end of said at least strand (25) is spliced so as to form an independent, separate loop (12) forming an integral part of said rope (1 1 ), and where a sheathing (24) is established by braided a number of ribbons (26) around the rope or hawser (10), and where the independent loop(s) (12) are removably attached to a bolt (15) inside the termination means (10),

c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that at least one loop (28) is established at one end of each ribbon (24), the ribbon loop (28) being configured around a preferably closed ring (27), and thereupon attaching the ring (27) with the ribbon loops (28) to locking surface(s) (30) provided on the termination means (13).

13. Method according to claim 12, wherein the ring (27) is attached to locking surface(s) provided on an end closure (23) of the termination means (13), the end closure preferably being made by two interlockable parts configured to be fixed to a lower end of the termination means (13).