Deck Machinery

Research Winches for R/V Maria S. Merian Seven special winches were supplied by Hatlapa in December 2003 after being tested and demonstrated in the factory. These winches are intended for the new research vessel Maria S. Merian, which will support the vessel Polarstern during operations in the Arctic.

Hatlapa has escorted this project for five years, during which time the design of the winches was formed in close cooperation with the order principal BAW (Bundesanstalt für Wasserbau) and the shipyard Krögerwerft in Rendsburg.

One specialty is the combination of friction and storage winch for handling the very long and relatively thin measuring cables. The advantage is that the sensitive and expensive research ropes can be spooled on the storage winch free from load. The pull is created in the friction part and exerted via several grooved drums to protect the rope. A spooling device which has been developed and patented by Hatlapa also guarantees that the rope is wound onto the storage winch in a clean and gentle manner. Thereby the crossing of rope layers resulting in rope breakages are avoided. The storage winches have a very large drum diameter for realizing low bending radii of rope when wound on for protecting the sensitive measuring wires in the ropes.

As already mentioned, the ropes are not just normal synthetic or steel wire rope, but consist of a single cable with an outer coating of synthetic material to protect the conductor against damage, to guarantee the necessary shielding, and to absorb the forces. Constant communication is possible between the control and measuring instruments by transmission rings in the winch, also during paying-out and hauling-in the rope. Furthermore, lighting conductor cables are in use which have a similar structure, allowing also constant communication between the control and measuring instruments. By using frequency inverter controlled motors the speed can be infinitely variably controlled and the winches operated absolutely synchronously. The otherwise usual maximum demands on the shipboard power supply, the ropes and mechanics are eliminated, because the winches are on stand-by from zero speed to full torque, thus allowing a smooth start. The electric driving capacity of each winch is up to 352 kW that is produced by four motors of each 88 kW. By using four motors capacity reserves are increased on the one hand, and on the other hand the distribution of the load into the gear allows a compact construction. To dissipate the heat arising in the electric motors water cooling has been provided, contrary to the usual air cooling.

Konecranes Giving Port Efficiency a Lift

Barbours Cut Terminal recently purchased 10 "super" cranes, and the Port Commission has approved five more. The original 10 cranes replace - and outperform - six older cranes that Barbours Cut had used. "In the first few months, we've gained efficiency and capacity," said Jeff Davis, container operations manager at Barbours Cut. "The Konecranes are more reliable, and they possess a greater hoist speed." The Konecranes were delivered in two shipments in January and March. The first five were operational by March and the subsequent five went online in May. The six older cranes were retired one at a time as the new Konecranes came online.

"These cranes can lift containers faster plus they move at a trolley speed," Davis said. "The wheel turns are a dramatic improvement; these wheels flip and go, creating a more efficient use of time." Davis explained that the new cranes have also reduced the amount of time it takes to process incoming and outgoing trucker loads at Barbours Cut. The average truck turn time used to range well over an hour. These days, it's down to just under an hour.

"The less time a truck spends at the terminal, the quicker it can get on the road and deliver its cargo," Davis said. "The 10 minutes we have gained in the first six months means real dollars to our customers. And I expect we'll experience more time efficiency once we receive the next shipment of five cranes next year." The Konecranes are able to stack containers four high compared to the retired models, which could only stack three. That increase in height saves precious yard space at the capacity-strained container terminal. Paulo Soares, maintenance superintendent at Barbours Cut, traveled to Finland to visit the Konecrane manufacturing facility during the procurement process. He said that he was very impressed with everything he learned during that trip.

Coastal Marine Wins ATB Contract

Coastal Marine Equipment. Inc. won a contract to provide the deck machinery for the Penn Maritime ATB being constructed at Bay Shipbuilding. Equipment for the 140,000 barrel barge includes the 2-3/16-in. stud link anchor windlass with soft rope mooring drum; three double drum wire rope mooring winches; and three 24-in. mooring capstans. All equipment is electrically driven and provided with variable frequency drives for multiple speed operation. The tug will be fitted with a 36-in. hydraulic capstan and 60-hp electro-hydraulic power unit. Coastal Marine Equipment offers a complete line of marine deck machinery, engineering and design, as well as general fabrication, precision and general machining, testing, installation, maintenance and repair services.

Markey for Alaska Ferry

Markey Machinery completed the supply of deck machinery for the new State of Alaska Ferry Lituya, under construction at Conrad Shipyards. The set of equipment includes two Markey type CEW-50 10 hp Electric Capstans, and one Markey type WEW-20 20 hp Electric Anchor Windlass for 1.25-in. anchor chain. The system features two-speed electric drives providing a wide range of performance, and marine design electrical equipment to withstand the rigors of operation in northern Alaska waters.

Intercon Continues to Notch ATB Success

While the market for articulated tug barges has slowed following strong activity in 2003, one of the leading names in the business, Intercon, continues to report success. Island Tug & Barge Ltd. of Vancouver, BC commissioned the barge, Island Trader, in Vancouver. The barge was built in China and returned to Vancouver by tug, Island Monarch. The 3,000 hp tug was retrofitted with an Intercon C-Series Coupler and the barge notch was fitted with Intercon ladder assemblies. The C-Series Coupler is the latest addition to Intercon's product line of articulated tug-barge couplers, sized for ATBs in the 60,000 to 100,000 BBL range.

Penn Maritime of Staten Island, New York ordered its fifth ATB to be outfitted with an Intercon 50-in. Coupler System. The 123-ft., 6,000-hp tug and 140,000-BBL barge will be built by Bay Shipbuilding of Sturgeon Bay, Wis.

SLM Corp. Uses New Winch Drive System

Superior Lidgerwood Mundy (SLM) Corp. has added yet another drive system to its already potent arsenal. In addition to hydraulic, electro-hydraulic, and standard electric drives, SLM has now incorporated a vector drive system control into its winch design. This vector drive system control provides for infinite speed control with maximum line pull at any speed range. In addition, this system provides for full load stall, and no noise during operation.

Burrard Iron Works Delivers

Burrard Iron Works Limited has been manufacturing, supplying and servicing engine room and deck machinery for the shipping industry since 1912. The company's heavy duty winches, windlasses and capstans are custom designed for each application, so that they meet the strenuous and diverse requirements of deep sea towboats, arctic supply vessels, sheltered water passenger ferries, cargo ships and tankers. Pictured is the Burrard HJD Double Drum Tow Winch, which carries 2,200 ft. of two-in. wire on one drum, and 2,000 ft. of 2.25-in. wire on the other. It has a mid-drum pull of 45,000 lbs. at 62 ft. per minute, light line at 125 ft. per minute.

Nabrico Offers Vast Line

Nabrico, with more than 100 years of service and known for its manual and powered 5- to 60-ton deck and constant-tension positioning winches, expanded its deck machinery product line. Now offering anchor windlasses and anchor winches, together with mooring winches and capstans, Nabrico is serving the marine equipment needs of the offshore barge and tug industry as well as the inland marine industry. Complete deck machinery packages have already been supplied to a number of operators of ocean-classed barges. Nabrico winches, capstans, oil cargo dome hatches and doors are also at work on the blue water.

Nabrico also makes a full line of mooring, anchoring, towing and deck winches, both manual and power, barge moving winch systems, hatches (including quick-acting models), watertight doors, expansion turnks and castings.

Timberland Services Workboat Market

From workboat equipment to offshore equipment, Timberland Equipment & Almon Johnson have a wide variety of marine equipment. Timberland Equipment & Almon Johnson provide a wide range of Winches for escort and ship assist applications, products which feature: Single or double drum configurations; Braking capacities up to 1,000,000 lbs. (448,000 daN); Superior control and abort systems; Gypsy heads; Hydraulic, Diesel or Electric drives; variable line-pull ratings to meet a specific customer's needs; and Optional Levelwind systems.

Rapp Hydema Finds Success in Russia

Rapp Hydema U.S. recently supplied another third-wire winch - the SOW-300 - that marks the seventh this year for the popular model. For U.S. vessel operators, the winch has been long known; more recently, however, Russian Far East firms-working through Seattle management companies-have also discovered the merits of the sturdy, user-friendly design. The first such Russian Far East customer was the F/V Tosno (Vladivostok) in 1997, but activity has moved north since then. So both Kamchatka and Sakhalin firms have recently added their names to the list of customers, including for the latter Gidrostroi, working through Polar Bear Seafoods (Seattle, WA).

Lankhorst Ropes Delivers Stength

A benchmark which is increasingly being used to measure the performance of ropes in the maritime industry is TCLL (Thousand Cycle Load Limit) value. TCLL expresses the maximum percentage of the nominal breaking strength at which a rope can be cycle loaded 1,000 times as tested under strict laboratory conditions. Simplified, TCLL expresses the rope's resistance against tension-tension fatigue. The higher the TCLL value expressed as a percentage, the higher the resistance against cycle loads. The TCLL value originates from OCIMF (Oil Companies International Marine Forum) guidelines for SPM mooring hawsers. The OCIMF only issues the guidelines. In order for them to be certified, an independent inspector from a recognized classification society must witness and verify the test. Lankhorst Ropes Euroflex rope recorded a certified 80% value while Tipto Eight was observed to achieve 71%.

Pullmaster

Pullmaster recently unveiled the M75 Equal Speed / H75 Rapid Reverse, a high performance, high efficiency planetary winch design, with a spring applied hydraulically released static/dynamic brake, exceptionally smooth lowering control and an oil bath enclosed, designed to provide long, trouble-free service.

Techcrane Global Provides Hose Handling Cranes

As OPA takes effect, companies are refurbishing old or building new vessels to comply with double hull requirements. Currently Techcrane is a supplier of hose handling cranes for most major fuel transport companies with their projects being completed at various shipyards along the Gulf and around the U.S. The cranes are being tailor made to accommodate various requirements such as multi product handling, multi point lifting and a special emergency payout system to help prevent inadvertent damage to the boom. The cranes range in capacity from 2.5 tons to 50 tons and are installed one on each side of the vessel or one in the centerline of the ship servicing port and starboard.

W.W. Patterson: Specializing in Heavy Duty

W.W. Patterson offers a number of deck machinery products for the marine business, boasting quality built for heavy duty cycles and reduced maintenance, and galvanized to withstand the harsh saltwater environment. Pictured is a barge haul winch, available in four models of varying pull capabilities. Each barge haul winch offers these features and options: W. W. Patterson's design — quality built for of operation and reduced maintenance; Extra-long drum for increased rope capacity; Thermostatically protected motor; Extra-wide gearing for high duty cycle; Large-diameter shafts for more even gear wear; Special high-inertia brake disks resist wear and heat build up caused by constant start and stop operation; Easy-access rope clip for rope installation; High-capacity roller bearing on high-speed shaft for reduced maintenance; Options include groove drum, radio controls, saltwater corrosion protection and angle foot mounts; and NEMA 4 control panel and remote push buttons available.