Offshore Staff
HELSINKI, Finland -- MacGregor's Plimsoll winch used for Single Buoy Moorings' Frade FPSO will be the company's biggest yet. Moored by an internal turret accommodating 33 risers, the moorings and risers will be handled by a Plimsoll winch supplied as part of an equipment package by MacGregor's Offshore division.
The package of Plimsoll equipment supplied by MacGregor also includes a 45-metric ton (50-ton) auxiliary winch, electro-hydraulic power pack, local control station, and rotary platform.
The Plimsoll main winch is used for tensioning mooring chains and pulling in the pipeline risers that transfer well fluids from the seabed to the surface. It features a single main plain-cored drum with two storage compartments. Each of four variable-speed low-torque hydraulic piston motors drives through an epicyclic reduction gearbox and on to a final drive guarded spur reduction gearset.
Enclosed plate type brakes mounted between the hydraulic motors and reduction gearboxes are hydraulically released and spring applied, so fail-safe to 'on'. Counterbalance valves are fitted into the hydraulic circuit to assist with controlled lowering on the winch.
05/09/2008
