The two projects represent a significant step up for North Sea Winches as the main winches for each boat are some 20% more powerful than similar models supplied for the earlier Holyhead Towing tugs ‘Afon Braint’ and ‘Afon Caradog’. The contract for each newbuild calls for the provision of a 50 ton double drum towing winch, double gypsy anchor windlass, auxiliary deck winches, engine room hydraulics and wheelhouse remote controls.

North Sea Winches recent successes across Europe an order from French company LD Travocean for six identical winches for a six point mooring system on a cable laying vessel. The hydraulic winches, rated at 30 tons each, are fitted with automatic spooling gear and cylinder operated brakes and clutches, enabling all the winches to be operated by remote control.

North Sea Winches designs and builds largely in-house, enabling winches and complete systems to be tailored to exact customer specification. Existing designs can be readily amended. The company manufactures anchor handling and towing winches, mooring winches, cable storage reels, anchor windlasses, capstans and tugger winches powered electrically or hydraulically with pull ranging from 500kg upwards. Diesel or electro-hydraulic power packs can also be supplied to suit the application.