Page 47: of Marine News Magazine (September 2017)

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DECK MACHINERY “Anecdotally, an argument can always be made that machines employing automatic controls are always safer for the simple reason that the processor is ever alert, never tires, and consistently responds in near real time according to a set of established operational criteria.” – John Davis, Markey Sales Engineer by Markey over the past 100+ years ? t this description.

The Advent of Synthetic Rope

While Class I winches work well in steady conditions

The introduction of synthetic ropes in the 1980s came of calm waters with light winds and currents, they are not with many advantages. Easier to handle, lighter, and nomi- suited for operation in highly dynamic wave conditions. nally safer than wire rope, synthetic ropes also ? oated.

A common application for a Class I winch would be har-

Maintaining line tension suddenly became an important re- bor docking service in an interior waterway or basin. But, quirement as the danger of fouling the tug’s propellers with a

Class I winches pose operational challenges in dynamic slack line became apparent. This led to the creation of tech- situations, particularly in escort operations requiring fre- nology to automatically render (pay out) and recover (haul quent repositioning of the tug relative to the assisted vessel.

in) line to maintain that tension while preventing ‘slack line’

While skilled operators have over time developed ways conditions. The term ‘Render/Recover’ was soon thereafter to achieve an “active drum” on a Class I winch, at the same coined, and Markey was at the heart of its development. As time, their ability to focus on maneuvering was limited, Markey looked into ways to integrate true Render/Recover since considerable attention was required for winch opera- functionality into hawser winches, they also knew that this tion. John Davis, Markey Sales Engineer explained, “An- new winch would need speci? c features, which would: ecdotally, an argument can always be made that machines employing automatic controls are always safer for the sim- ¾Provide full range controllable line pull in either ple reason that the processor is ever alert, never tires, and direction (inhaul and payout).

consistently responds in near real time according to a set of ¾Allow for “instant” inhaul at full line pull and speed.

established operational criteria.” ¾Allow controllable relief path for hard rendering 47 www.marinelink.com MN