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WHOI Selects Rapp Hydema ROV Winch

Maritime Activity Reports, Inc.

July 24, 2012

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. 
 

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