ACE Winches engineers one of the world’s largest chain mooring system

ACE Winches, the leading deck machinery specialist, has successfully delivered one of the world’s largest chain winch packages for Heerema Marine Contractors for its new Aegir vessel.

Supporting the Ichthys LNG Project, offshore Northwest Australia, ACE Winches has engineered, designed, manufactured and commissioned a 200te twin Chainlifter Hydraulic package for Heerema. The chain winch package will be used to pull the heaviest chains ever installed by Heerema, with a diameter of 178mm.

ACE Winches also produced two 50te WLL twin Chainlifter Hydraulic winches along with a 600kW Containerised Safe Area Electric Hydraulic Power Unit (HPU), 152kW Containerised Safe Area Electric HPU and a 76kW Containerised Safe Area Electric HPU. All equipment was engineered and designed by ACE Winches’ dedicated engineering and projects team and manufactured at the company’s global headquarters in Northeast Aberdeenshire before being transported across the world for commissioning.

Due to the complexity of the project, Heerema, in partnership with ACE Winches, evaluated different systems and developed safe and practical solutions. With the expertise of ACE Winches engineering team, the determined solution was to lay the chains on the barge then reel them off with the help of the chainlifter winch packages designed and manufactured to a very high and technical specification.

ACE Winches has steadily built a long-standing relationship with leading marine contractor, Heerema, having previously supplied various hire and manufactured equipment such as the 400te Reel Drive System. With repeated high quality engineering solutions, ACE Winches has a proven track record in providing quality products specifically suited to Heerema’s project needs.

Jan van Akkeren, senior vice president of operations and asset management, visited ACE Winches global headquarters on the completion of the chainlifter packages and said: “We chose ACE Winches because the equipment has to be technically perfect and also cost effective. Heerema has built up a relationship with ACE Winches over the years and its technical and financial evaluation came out the best.

“The end product produced looks very good, the top quality we want and we need. The people are very dedicated and I’m very impressed by the company.”

Alfie Cheyne, CEO, ACE Winches said: “This is an exciting development in the company’s product range and capabilities. The Heerema Chainlifter Winch project elevates ACE Winches into a new level of mooring activity for the FPSO and FSO markets globally.  We have enjoyed building our valued relationship with Heerema and look forward to continuing to provide them with complete back deck solutions.”

ACE Winches will be showcasing this project and its products this week at Offshore Energy, stand 8.062 on 13th and 14th October.