Shipping companies are pivotal to the free flow of goods across the globe. There is simply no more economical and efficient way to get large amounts of goods from port to port. And large container ships are extremely labor-intensive to buy, build and maintain. The safety of those ships, while they are in port, is essential. They must be safely moored.
But it is not only the largest of container ships that must be able to cope with fluctuating tide levels and increasingly harsh weather conditions. Leisure craft also need to be secured. A 100-meter-long Superyacht for instance costs upwards of $250 million. Even smaller yachts can represent an enormous investment on the part of the owner.
This is why owners need to carefully evaluate the type of mooring winch for ships that they choose to secure their assets to the dock. A top-quality mooring winch needs to be able to cope with factors such as drift, take into account optimal positioning during loading and unloading – and provide exceptional support.
The type and model of mooring wrench, its capacity, and pulling force will depend largely on the number of drums. The usual rating ar for between 5 and 150 tons.
For larger loads, there are two main types of mooring winch available. These are the hydraulic mooring winches and the electric mooring winches.
Electric mooring winches have some advantages over the hydraulic type. They are far easier to install, require less maintenance and are extremely reliable. They also tend to be more environmentally friendly – there is less risk of oil leakage. Given the increasingly stringent regulation of pollution levels from ocean-going vesssels, this can be an important consideration when deciding which winch to purchase. They are also cost-effective.
For loads that will place a large amount of stress on the winch apparatus, the hydraulic mooring winch is the preferred solution. These winches also have their advantages. They are very compact and lightweight. They also are very efficient and have an extremely good safety record. Hydraulic mooring winches also boast high starting torque, low noise levels, and extremely good low-speed stability. There are a number of drum configurations that make these winches suitable for a variety of tasks. These include single drum, waterfall double drum, and coaxial double drum.
Another popular type of mooring winch is the so-called windlass mooring winch. These types of winches are easy to install and are the preferred solution for vessels that may have limited deck space. They can be used for both mooring and anchoring – and are also used on board fishing vessels to aid in the retrieval of nets. Vessel owners are also attracted to this type of winch due to the fact that manufacturing costs are lower than other types and installation costs are also significantly lower.
The type of mooring winch that is chosen by boat owners can have a material impact on the safety of their vessels. The choice of which winch to choose is one of the most important ones that will face every owner. A vessel will spend much of its working life berthed – and the incorrect choice of winch mooring will directly impact the vessel’s profitability – and the cost of maintenance.