Assurance of safe operation and maintenance of vertical and horizontal transportation systems (skip hoists, belt conveyor flights) is a main task for NDT specialists in mining engineering. An active and a passive methods of magnetic non-destructive testing are described in the paper. The active MRT method which uses a strong magnetic field and is a basic method in examination of ferromagnetic ropes is presented. Negative aspects of the MRT method are identified: reduced reliability of examination for compact ropes with surface wire contacts. A proposition of MRT method complementation by means of a passive NDT method–Metal Magnetic Memory (MMM) is also described. In the paper there are presented: theoretical foundations of changes in ferromagnetic remanence under the influence of stresses and operational conditions, a previous scope of the MMM method in ISO 24497, observations of MMM method users from examinations out of the scope of ISO 24497 and results of own research (laboratory and comparative studies) performed on an operational object. It has been pointed out that sensitivity and resolution of contemporary triaxle magnetometers enable to reliably detect magnetic anomalies in magnetic signatures of stranded and compact ropes without the necessity of their magnetization. MRT and MMM methods complement each other. Therefore, it is reasonable to apply both methods in order to increase reliability of examinations.