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Houlder Holds Sway With HMS Dumbarton Castle's Cranes
01 Jan 2004
Marine design consultancy Houlder has delivered two cranes for the Royal Navy's Fishery Protection Vessel HMS Dumbarton Castle . The cranes replace obsolete units and will be used to handle the two RIBs on the aft deck. The RIBs, sited port and starboard, are the main part of the vessel's capability in its fishery protection role.
The contract for HMS Dumbarton Castle followed a previous order to supply a similar unit to the Antarctic survey vessel HMS Endurance .This unit has proved itself under extreme environmental conditions and provides the user with a high degree of performance and reliability.
The mechanical systems are identical on both vessels to allow a commonality of spares as well as similarity of operation and maintenance regimes.
The cranes are capable of handling the vessel's two RIBs for deployment in conditions up to Sea State 6. The cranes are of articulated jib type that allows the jib head to be kept low during operations to reduce the pendulation effect of the boat on the wire.
The hoist winch incorporates an auto-tension facility to maintain a taut wire and eliminate any shock loading induced from taking up slack wires. The operator can then time the best moment at which the RIB is lifted from the water. All functions are hydraulically operated from a designated power pack within the vessel and controlled electrically.
The crane is designed to Lloyd's Register of Shipping, SOLAS and Defence Standards.
It meets the safety requirements for man-riding operations.
MJ Information No: 19014
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