ACE winch order is largest ever
ACE Winches of Scotland, has successfully completed a £ 2m manufacturing order for Marlin Offshore International Ltd and international drilling contractor KCA DEUTAG for the design, manufacture and commissioning of four replacement 75 ton double drum anchor mooring winches and hydraulic power unit packages for Marlin’ s self erect tender rig Searex X, currently operating in West Africa.
The background to the study and contract award started during the final quarter of 2007 when KCA DEUTAG and ACE Winches commenced conceptual dialogue in the supply of replacement winches for the Searex X. Through these extended discussions with KCA marine operations, agreement was reached on the scope of supply and the manufacturing package required by KCA DEUTAG. Due to space constraints a case study was required and an ACE engineer was commissioned to carry out an on site survey in West Africa of the existing set-up.
Once the case study had been completed ACE design engineers were able to create a winch design that fitted the limited space and conformed to the required ABS standards. ACE also supplied the interconnecting pipe work to minimise any potential safety risks. The winches were manufactured and tested at ACE’s premises in Aberdeenshire and ACE will be involved in the upcoming installation and operative training.
The contract, which was won against stiff international competition from both the USA and Norway, represents the single largest manufacturing order ACE has completed to date, and boosts the company’s manufacturing sales to over £4m for the current financial year, an increase of 50% on 2008.
John Nichols, mobile rigs equipment and maintenance manager for KCA DEUTAG said, ‘Our anchor mooring winches on the Searex X were scheduled for replacement and so we investigated the marketplace. We were very impressed with both the high quality standards and delivery dates offered by ACE Winches. We have some special requirements on Searex X which ACE has designed into the new winches and we are very pleased with their proposals. The winches have been delivered on time and on budget as promised.’
