A candid look at double drum mooring winches: specs, trends, and real-world notes

If you’re weighing up a double drum mooring winch for a vessel refit or newbuild, here’s the straight talk from the shop floor and the pier. The gear in question is built in NO.688 Zhongshan Road, Qiaoxi district, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, China—where the supply chain is surprisingly fast when specs are locked early. To be honest, the recent pivot toward grooved drums and sensorized controls isn’t hype; it fixes rope management headaches we used to accept as “normal.”

Industry trend check

In 2024–2025, yards are asking for higher brake holding factors (≥1.8× SWL), integrated load cells, and coatings rated C5M. Many customers say the grooved drums cut spooling damage and crew interventions—especially with HMPE lines. And yes, hybrid-electric drives are quietly replacing pure hydraulics on workboats, driven by energy goals and maintenance budgets.

Typical specifications (real-world may vary)

Rated pull	≈ 50–300 kN at 1st layer
Line speed	10–18 m/min (continuous)
Drum arrangement	Twin drums, grooved; split or waterfall
Brake holding	≥ 1.8–2.0 × SWL
Rope capacity	Up to ≈ 200–400 m (Ø 36–48 mm)
Drive	Electric or hydraulic; VFD / proportional control
Protection & coating	IP56 motors; paint system C5M
Certifications	ABS, DNV, BV, LR (on request)

Process flow, materials, and testing

• Materials: marine steel (e.g., Q355B) for frames; alloy shafts; seamless drum shells with precision grooving.
• Methods: CNC machining, robotic welding, stress relief, groove milling; dynamic balancing of drums.
• NDT: UT/MT on critical welds; hydrostatic tests on hydraulic manifolds.
• Factory tests: no-load and load tests up to 1.1× rated pull; brake verification to ≥1.8× SWL; noise checks (ISO 3744).
• Service life: around 15–25 years with annual class surveys; C5M coating for harsh splash zones.

Applications and a quick case

You’ll see the double drum mooring winch on offshore support vessels, tugs, FPSOs, jack-up barges, and even land rigs where synchronized pulls matter. A recent Southeast Asia tug refit swapped aging kit for a grooved double drum mooring winch; crew reported 30–40% fewer rope layering corrections and noticeably steadier payout during surge. Small win, big morale boost.

Vendor snapshot (indicative)

Vendor	Lead time	Price band	Cert support	Customization
LBS Winch (Hebei)	≈ 6–10 weeks	Value	ABS/DNV/BV/LR	High (grooved, sensors)
European OEM A	10–16 weeks	Premium	Strong	High
Korean OEM B	8–12 weeks	Mid–High	Strong	Medium

Customization and buying notes

• Options: auto-tension, line counters, load pins, warping heads, remote/PLC integration.
• Commercials: FOB ≈ US $0.5–9,999 per piece; MOQ ~100; capacity ≈ 10,000 pcs/month (batch projects scale well).
• Paperwork: class approvals, FAT reports, coating DFT logs, material certs (EN 10204 3.1).

Field feedback: “Quieter than our old hydraulics and the grooved layer holds shape better in swell.” Not scientific, but it matches test data we’ve seen—line speed stability within ±5% and brake holding routinely verified above 1.8× SWL.

Citations

1. OCIMF, Mooring Equipment Guidelines (MEG4), 4th Ed.
2. DNV Rules for Ships, Pt.4 Ch.5 – Mooring and Anchoring Equipment.
3. ABS Steel Vessel Rules – Equipment for Mooring and Anchoring.
4. ISO 3744: Acoustics — Determination of sound power levels of noise sources.
5. DNV-ST-0378: Standard for Offshore and Platform Lifting Appliances (related testing practices).