JonRie introduces its new Auto Tow System

The system provides a complete solution for operators involved in deepsea, open water and coastal towage.

The JonRie ATS is an advanced system designed to compliment the existing range of towing winches and includes a Constant Scope Tension Limiting device which will relieve tension on the towline at a pre-determined load and when the tension is reduced the winch will ‘pay-out’, back to the original preset towline length (scope). As proven over many years of towing experience, this type of system provides an added safety factor to any towage operation. The ATS also takes into account the catenary (line sag), displays the real distance between the tug and tow, displaying/sounding an alarm if the tow is to close the tug or too far away. If the tug is about to disconnect from the tow, the package provides a GPS position on the tug and tow. If the tow is lost, the GPS will give its location to the tug in enough time to reconnect.

This new addition, along with JonRie’s other towing winch features, includes ‘read-outs’ for line length (scope) and line tension using side and backlit displays with dimming for night time operation. The winch independently driven level wind mechanism (spooling gear) and controlled freewheel function can all be controlled and monitored from the wheelhouse.

All JonRie Series 500 Towing Winches are ‘direct drive’ using separate hydraulic motors to power the winch drum and level wind (spooling gear). This arrangement uses no open gearing and no clutches, resulting in a reduction in maintenance and extending the life of the equipment in heavy seas and bad weather. This approach to winch design is also responsible for a dramatic reduction in noise levels, offering a considerable improvement in crew comfort, and making them among the quietest and most advanced winches currently available on the market.

Every towing winch is supplied with an ‘H-Bitt’ style fairlead incorporating a horizontal cross bar to lower the tripping (capsizing) moment of the tug.

Many of the new tugs being delivered to owners in North America in recent months have been fitted with JonRie winches of the type described, including ‘line-haul’ (deepsea) tugs, escort and shiphandling vessels. For more information see Maritime Journal – July 2013.