Handbook of Oceanographic Winch, Wire, and Cable Technology, 3rd edition.

Abstract

This third edition to the Handbook of Oceanographic Winch, Wire and Cable Technology has been prepared to provide a reference and guide for the operation, handling and care of winches, wires, cables and oceanographic rope for the operators and scientists of the oceanographic community. Further references on specific subjects can be found in the various chapters. Since the original writing of this handbook the operators of oceanographic ships have significantly improved the reliability and safety of deck equipment and deck operations. Some credit must be given to this handbook and the increased interest of both the funding agencies and the ship operators in striving for a higher level of operation and maintenance. Periodic review of this manual and symposia similar to the one held in New Orleans in 1999 provide a greater focus and heighten the interest of the oceanographic community to continuous improvements. In the original Handbook the following word of caution was made. It remains germane. It is appropriate to insert a word of caution for the reader who is dealing with the evaluation of a winch and wire system. That caution is that in dealing with a calculated ideal it may not always be possible to achieve that ideal in practice due to the physical restraints that are imposed by research vessel size and configuration. When it becomes necessary to depart from the calculated ideal for one reason or the other, the assessment should be scrutinized carefully in order to define the true operational limits for the equipment at hand. Additionally, problems that manifest themselves in an existing winch and wire system are rarely the result of a single element and are usually the result of several component problems. When problems do arise, the entire system should be evaluated and appropriate corrective or de-rating measures taken. This handbook contains information suitable to initiate a careful review of existing winch systems as well as being useful for the specification of upgrades or new systems. It is the hope of the authors that this handbook will serve as a ready reference for both the oceanographic and commercial communities, now and in the future.