Spanish winch for harsh Russian tug use
Spain’s Fluidmecanica has been contracted by Pella Shipyard in Russia to supply deck equipment for the fourth of the PE65 series escort tugs which will be operating in particularly harsh conditions.
The KM Ice2-Arc5 RMRS classified combination winch can be used with an ambient air temperature between -35ºC and up to +35ºC. It will still operate with a 5º trim and a pitching motion of 7.5º and can also cope with a 15º continuous roll, or a motion of up to 22.5º.
There are two towing drums sitting on a common bedplate, holding 180m of 65mm diameter rope. The towing operation in first gear gives 200kN at a speed up to 10m per minute, while the third gear give 80kN at between zero and 35kN per minute.
The 140 tonne (1,373.5 kN) operation on the first layer benefits from automatic tension, with put-out (slipping) when the tension is more than half of the maximum load.
The main pull is given by two high pressure, axial piston hydraulic motors plus gearbox. The hydraulic clutch system runs independently on each drum, and both the drum and superstructure are made of carbon steel. In each drum there is a ‘negative’ brake, and the clutch and brake systems also operate on the chain lifters.
For ease of use, the winch can be operated from local or remote panels. The powerpack, clutch and brake activation are indicated by lights and there are control-alarm lamps to warn of low oil levels, phase failure and overloading. Automatic sound and light alarms will indicate the last 15m of rope in the drum plus any spontaneous slipping of the towrope. There is also a quick release disk hook.
Fluidmecanica has built up a breadth of experience in the design and build of this kind of machine. It has manufactured a number of other, similar pieces of equipment in the few last years, including a 115 tonne towing winch for the Balenciaga Shipyard, and three 75 tonne towing winches for the Nevsky yard.
Technical specification:
– Max load, 140 tonnes (1,373.5 kN)
– 180m of Ø 65mm rope on each drum
– 1,860 kN drum belt brake keeping force
– 20 bar working pressure
– 170 lpm oil flow
– 18.5 tonnes in weight
