Recovery Winches

WHOI Selects Rapp Hydema ROV Winch

Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) selected Rapp Hydema to supply an electric ROV winch. The order adds another UNOLS entry to Rapp’s backlog, including a complete deck machinery outfitting on the Alaskan Regional Research Vessel (ARRV) that includes winches as well as load-handling systems.  The Active Heave Compensation (AHC) capable winch accommodates 7350m of .681 EM cable, or 7500m of 9/16” cable.  The winch powering scheme retains Rapp’s redundancy approach, with three electric motors mounted on the gearbox; management is through VFDs (variable-frequency drives).  One of Rapp’s newest winch control systems, the Pentagon Research system, will provide controls for the Active Heave Compensation (AHC).  “Rapp displayed a methodical approach to some complex problems on deck,” said Matt Heintz, a Mechanical Engineer at WHOI, who first approached Rapp about the winch at the Underwater Intervention exhibition in February 2010, and subsequently in 2011 was one of several attendees of a  UNOLS delegation that visited Seattle to witness a test of the LARS (launch-and-recovery system) for the ARRV  “I was impressed with technological choices and Rapp’s adaptability to evolving requirements.  We executed several revisions of the specification in order to achieve a best fit.”  Rapp will be delivering the winch in February 2013. 

Bisso Marine Acquires New SAT System

Bisso Marine, provider of energy and maritime support services, has acquired a 12-man portable Saturation Diving System. The new SAT System has a working depth of 1,000 feet (300 meters). It features a dual-lock, six-man deck decompression chamber, a 12-man launchable flyaway hyperbaric rescue chamber, a dual-lock, six-man come-out chamber and a three-man diving bell. “This SAT System expands our working depth and fully maximizes our bottom time

Rapp Hydema Completes FAT for ARRV Deck Machinery

Factory Acceptance Tests (FAT) of Rapp deck machinery for the Alaskan Regional Research Vessel (ARRV) were recently undertaken successfully in Seattle. Other than winches, the tests included the Load-Handing System (LHS), which was tested in a unique upside-down configuration.  A UNOLS delegation, along with representatives of Marinette Marine Shipyard and the U.S. Navy’s OpNav office, witnessed the tests.   The diverse machinery package was manufactured locally in

Vroon Offshore Embarks on 10-Vessel New-Build Program

North Sea Emergency Recovery & Rescue Vessel (ERRV) operator Vroon Offshore Services (VOS) to invest $100-million in new ships. The new "comfort class" boats - six 50m ERRVs and four 60 ERRV field support vessels - will be built in Nanjing and Fujian in China under Vroon's supervision and support a new wave-piercing bow-shape designed in Singapore by the group. The first of the ERRVs is due to be delivered in April 2013 with the first of the 60m boats due to arrive in Q1

Caley Davits for Japanese Vessels

Caley Ocean Systems has supplied davits for four Japanese Fisheries patrol vessels. The davits will allow the rapid deployment and retrieval of a range of high speed workboats, even in Sea State 6 conditions, during patrol operations. The all-weather Caley davits enable rigid inflatable boats (RIBS) to be held in readiness and launched in seconds. Crew safety is paramount to the davit's handling system which features anti-pendulation control for pitch and roll damping and reduction of

Havyard Deck Machinery Contract for NDM

NDM (Norwegian Deck Machinery) contracted by Havyard Ship Techology in Leirvik to deliver winches for a Forland Shipping offshore vessel newbuilding The contract is for the delivery of the following equipment:     •    One (1) combined windlass/mooring winch     •    Two (2) mooring winches     •    Four (4) capstans

News: Thoma-Sea Builds New Z-Drive

Cummins Marine's recently introduced QSK60 engines are finding a ready market in the 2,000 hp plus range in both Europe and North America. This spring the sale of two more QSK60s was announced for a Z-drive tug building at Thoma-Sea Boatbuilders in Houma, La. Designed by well-know Louisiana-based naval architect Frank Basile's Entech and Associates Inc., the 104 by 36-ft. boat will have a 17-ft. molded depth. Tankage provides for over 90,000 gallons of fuel, 10

Markey Fills Out Electric Towing Winch Line

As the new year begins, Markey Machinery is preparing a new TES-40-75HP electric towing winch for shipment that will be installed on Harley Marine Services new Z-drive ship assist tractor tug “M/V Robert Franco”. The first item of two suites of deck machinery specified by Harley for both the “M/V Robert Franco” and its’ sister, the “M/V Ahbra Franco”, the TES-40-75HP towing winch also fills out Markey’s electric towing winch line which now

Kvichak New Foil Assisted Patrol Cat

Kvichak Marine Industries, Inc. is currently constructing a third generation foil assisted all-aluminum patrol catamaran. Designed by Kvichak Marine, this 57.8 ft vessel can be used as a fast response patrol boat, survey boat, crew boat or general work boat. The hull and superstructure will be constructed of marine-grade aluminum alloy plate and extrusions. A square A-frame with hydraulic winch is located on the aft deck and will facilitate launch and recovery of skiffs/ROVs and fit around an

Cosalt Offshore Acquires Spooling Winch

Cosalt Offshore, which provides lifting, tooling and marine services to the oil & gas industry, has recently ordered a second 50-tonne spooling winch from ACE Winches as part of a major investment in equipment.   The second winch, destined for Norway, was ordered following an increasingly high demand for the first, which has been in constant operation in the North Sea since its delivery in February 2011. The winch package is designed to carry 50 tonnes of wire rope or umbilical and