Why is the marine windlass an indispensable key equipment for offshore anchoring operations?

In the vast ocean, the ship anchoring system is the first line of defense to ensure navigation safety. Whether it is to deal with sudden storms or to temporarily dock in a safe harbor, reliable anchoring operations are directly related to the safety of crew members, cargo and the ship itself. As the core power unit of the anchoring system, Marine Windlass is the key technical support for the efficient and safe execution of this process.
Challenges of anchoring operations: When manpower cannot fight against the power of nature
Traditional anchoring operations rely on manual operation of anchor chains and anchor claws, but in the face of the weight of anchor chains of modern ships ranging from several tons to tens of tons, it is almost impossible to complete the task with the physical strength of the crew alone. Take a medium-sized cargo ship as an example. The weight of its anchor chain can reach 50-100 kilograms per meter, with a total length of more than 200 meters. Together with the weight of the anchor claw itself, the total mass of the entire anchoring system may exceed 10 tons. On the deck with wind and waves, there are huge hidden dangers in the efficiency, accuracy and safety of manual operation. The marine anchor winch can complete the anchor chain retraction and release within minutes through the mechanical power system, freeing manpower from high-risk and high-intensity labor.

Professional design: precision engineering guarantees key performance
The technical structure of modern marine anchor winches fully reflects the wisdom of marine engineering:

Dual-function integrated structure: the integrated design of the chain wheel and the warping drum can not only accurately control the water entry speed of the anchor chain, but also assist in the cable mooring operation.
Power redundancy system: high-end models are equipped with electric and hydraulic dual drive modes to ensure that basic operations can be maintained when a single power fails, in line with the International Maritime Organization (IMO) redundancy requirements for key equipment.
Intelligent braking device: equipped with an automatic load-sensing braking system, when the anchor chain is subjected to sudden impact force (such as violent shaking of the ship), dynamic braking can be activated within 0.5 seconds to prevent the anchor chain from slipping out of control.
Corrosion-resistant materials: using 316L stainless steel and hot-dip galvanizing process, combined with sealed bearing design, it can maintain a service life of more than 20 years in salt spray and high humidity environments.
Quantitative verification of safety benefits
According to the 2022 accident report of Lloyd's Register, 78% of the ship dragging anchor accidents caused by anchoring equipment failure were related to manual operation errors or insufficient equipment power. Ships equipped with professional windlasses have shown significant advantages:

The anchor chain release speed is increased by 300%, and emergency anchoring can be completed within 90 seconds in an emergency
The grip error rate of the anchor claw is less than 2%, and the constant tension mode automatically compensates for tidal changes
In the past five years, the global merchant fleet has avoided an estimated 1,200 dragging anchor accidents due to the intervention of windlasses
The dual value of economic efficiency and regulatory compliance
The pursuit of efficiency in the modern shipping industry has made the time cost of anchoring operations a focus of attention. A bulk carrier equipped with a 2000kW main engine consumes more than $3,000 per hour in fuel. An efficient windlass can shorten the anchoring preparation time from 45 minutes in the traditional mode to 10 minutes, saving about $1,750 in fuel expenses for a single operation.

Professional advice on selection and maintenance
Classification society experts emphasize that the selection of anchor winches needs to be systematically calculated based on the ship type, operating sea area and anchor chain specifications. Based on the anchor chain diameter (D), it is recommended that:

Working load ≥ 3×D² (kN)
Braking load ≥ 4×D² (kN) Daily maintenance should focus on:
Monthly test the cleanliness of hydraulic oil (NAS 1638 Class 8 standard)
Quarterly test the wear of brake pads (immediately replace if it exceeds 3mm)
Annual laser scanning of the anchor chain wheel tooth profile to prevent the risk of chain jumping due to wear.