MacGregor introduces new chain jack design – Pusnes RamWindlass

MacGregor, a Finland-based provider of offshore vessel equipment, announced on Tuesday the launch of its new product in the Pusnes product range.

The latest addition to the Pusnes line named the Pusnes RamWindlass, is based on the chain-jack mooring system design used in prior MacGregor products like the Pusnes RamWinches.

According to Torbjörn Rokstad, Director of MacGregor Pusnes Mooring Systems, the RamWinch is a popular choice in the Gulf of Mexico spar platforms and several other FPO units, but the RamWindlass is an updated, even more compact, type of chain-jack up design mooring system which is a response to current market demands.

The current RamWinch design extends the main cylinder below the winch foundation plates in order to exert the stroke or ‘jacking’ movement and each stroke moves the chain two links at a time. The RamWindlass provides considerable advances over the RamWinch since it can lock the chain on every chain link providing a shorter stroke for the ram which in turn requires less space. In addition, the jacking occurs on the cable lifter, not on the chain.

The Pusnes RamWindlass’ all-in-one foundation requires no penetration through the deck. The system can enable tension reading while in both dynamic and static mode and according to info by MacGregor, the simplicity of the design makes the system low maintenance and highly reliable.

Roksad also stated that all RamWindlass operators will benefit from an even more compact design since space is scarce aboard floating production units. RamWindlass will, due to its compact design, require less height clearance in the mooring arrangement, said Roksad.

The Pusnes RamWinch has been developed in late 1990s and, according to MacGregor, the extensive knowledge and experience of operating Pusnes RamWinches has been an essential part of the design process for the new RamWindlass.