MacArtney provide Active Heave Compensated MERMAC winch solution to Alcatel Submarine Networks for planned subsea offshore operations

MacArtney says its MERMAC R40 AHC Winch, aboard the ASN Ile de Class vessel, will be facilitating the effective laying of seismic cables on the seabed of the Johan Castberg oilfield in the Barents Sea for Equinor’s new Permanent Reservoir Monitoring system.

The MacArtney Group has been developing and supplying winch systems for the offshore Oil & Gas market for four decades. With the experience of delivering over 400 winch systems within this industry, MacArtney has always been dedicated to supplying smarter solutions. From this experience has grown the development of MacArtney Active Heave Compensated winch systems designed to reduce dynamic effect during the launch, recovery and operation of submarine equipment.

This MERMAC R40 AHC winch, engineered for offshore work in weather conditions of minimum Hs (Significant Wave Height) of 3 meters during launch, recovery and operations is of compact design and fitted with a right angle level wind. The MERMAC R40 AHC winch is supplied with a Moog Focal combined Electro-Optical Slip Ring. The winch is umbilical compatible and fitted with slip ring and joint box suitable for single mode fibre optics.

The MERMAC winch system purchased by ASN, part of the Nokia Corporation, will be utilised aboard the Ile de Class vessel in the laying of seismic cabling and sensors that will be permanently deployed on the Barents’ seabed to enable more frequent and improved 4D seismic interpretation of the subsurface. The Active Heave Compensation works to reduce the influence of wave movement on the Touchdown Monitoring System and enables it to accurately lay the seismic cables and sensors in the correct position on the seabed.

The durability and versatility of the MacArtney MERMAC winch range are what makes it the winch of choice for a wide range of applications. Designed to be dependable and easy to use the MERMAC R winches are available in standard and custom configurations and are easily combined with a range of LARS.

MacArtney’s long history supporting the Oil & Gas industry has provided a proven record of accomplishment for developing technology and tools suited to this ever-changing market. As international energy companies, like Equinor, seek to improve oil recovery in new cost-effective ways technology will be a defining factor in the challenge ahead. By providing technologically advanced, rugged and fit for purpose tools MacArtney is well poised to support the needs of the Oil & Gas market as it develops new strategies for successful exploration and production.