Capstan winch tests for UK naval base.

Newcastle, UK-based industrial lifting and testing company, Lift-Rite Engineering Services, has developed a client specific, bespoke solution for the testing of capstan winches following their installation at a UK naval base.

The capstan winches, which will be used to support the mooring of naval vessels at the naval base, require extensive testing of both foundations and performance prior to full commissioning.

To enable this, Lift-Rite developed and supplied a custom testing solution comprising an internal temporary anchor point to maintain pulling loads of the winches while in static and dynamic testing. This allowed for analysis of performance and lifespan under a range of operating environments.

Commenting on the project, Paul Hodgson, operations manager at Lift-Rite says, “This was a complex job which required us to design, develop and supply a solution that would load test the capstan winches on a naval base of great national importance.

“The focus on getting it right was therefore paramount as not only did we have to deliver the right solution, we also had to do this under significant time constraints and on a project of national significance.

“We feel very privileged to have been asked to undertake the load test and are hugely proud to have delivered an industry first that can now be rolled out not only across the naval industry but also across those that similarly rely on this type of equipment.”

As part of the contract, Lift-Rite was contracted to manage the job from initial design of the temporary anchor point to full installation and testing. The operation took place on a naval base with all Lift-Rite personnel provided with the required security clearances to operate on the site.

Lift Rite is a single-source supplier of industrial lifting, rigging, and testing equipment.  The team specialises in working across highly regulated industries with employees cleared to work in DSEAR environments.