Fremantle Ports is taking a leading role in a campaign to introduce safety regulations for ships' mooring lines.

Fremantle Ports Harbour Master, Captain Eric Atkinson, told an international congress of harbour masters in Cape Town this month research indicated that at least 12 people die every year from accidents involving faulty mooring lines, and numerous others are seriously injured.

He said the estimated number of deaths worldwide was based on the findings of surveys conducted by a number of maritime bodies, among them the International Association of Ports and Harbours, and the International Harbour Masters' Association. The figure could be much higher.

As well as the fatalities there were many severely disabling injuries such as crushed and fractured limbs associated with mooring line accidents.

Captain Atkinson said Fremantle Port's campaign to address this problem was initiated following an accident at Fremantle in December 2000 when a stern line gave way under tension. A port services officer involved in the mooring operation subsequently had his right leg amputated below the knee.

Captain Atkinson said the incident highlighted a compelling need for international regulations to ensure that ships' mooring lines and mooring equipment are in a safe and well maintained condition.

"Mooring lines are not included in the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea regulations.

"There is no international convention to force ship owners to ensure their mooring equipment is safe.

Captain Atkinson said the absence of regulations on ships' mooring lines and mooring equipment was a critical omission from the International Maritime Organisation's safety regulations.

"As a result, there is no legal basis for member States of the Port State Control program to inspect ships' mooring lines and equipment, as there is for all other aspects of vessel safety," Captain Atkinson said.

Port State Control is an international memorandum of understanding targeting sub standard ships. It enables the inspection of foreign ships to ensure they meet international safety and environmental standards.

The Australian Maritime Safety Authority monitors mooring lines during Port State Control inspections and raises any serious issues with ship masters but is currently unable to detain vessels for issues related to mooring arrangements.

Captain Atkinson said a proposal had now been put to the International Maritime Organisation by one of its member States, with support from others, to review safety issues in relation to ships' mooring equipment.

"It is hoped that this will cover mooring lines as well," Captain Atkinson said.

"Given the seriousness of the current situation, this matter needs to be high on the IMO agenda until something is done."

Captain Atkinson said Fremantle Ports had a policy in place enabling mooring personnel to refuse to take a ship's mooring line if they had reason to suspect that the line was unsafe.

Under this policy, the master of the vessel would be provided with written notification of the reasons for rejecting the line, with copies of this forwarded to the Australian Maritime Safety Authority and the ship's agent. However, in Fremantle Ports' view, it is important to have an inspection regime because mooring lines are often handled in the dark, and it is not possible to adequately inspect them during mooring operations or to be sure that the appropriate action is taken by relevant authorities.