The exploitation of non-living marine resources – such as minerals or energy – is a key growth sector within governments’ major commitment to the blue economy, which is steadily consolidating and evolving towards more sustainable practices.

Ibercisa Deck Machinery has an extensive track record of designing and supplying equipment for the subsea sector, counting clients such as Asso Subsea, Heerema Marine Contractors, Jan de Nul and ACSM among its users; this segment also encompasses oceanographic vessels, with clients including the Spanish Institute of Oceanography, Ifremer, and Inidep, among others. Indeed, this experience is one of Ibercisa Deck Machinery’s competitive advantages. “Our deep understanding of the required operations allows us to work with our customers at every stage – from design through to training on the winches – with the aim of delivering integrated solutions in a segment where the coordination of equipment is crucial,” the company explains.

Among the challenges when designing equipment for this segment, the operational depth is particularly critical – whether for trenching operations, mooring installations, PLGR operations or sample collection – as these tasks require not only robust equipment but also more precise control and complex, customisable operating modes depending on the type of operation.

For winches using Active Heave Compensation (AHC), depth and the mass to be compensated are the principal variables in defining the equipment, as they impact the selection of cable and, consequently, its weight, given that some machines may accommodate over 10,000 metres of cable. “Once the operating depth is established, the choice of cable will depend on the winch application (whether for coring, ROV, sonar, lifting, etc.), which will determine the physical properties of the cable – these then form the basis for calculating the winch’s working conditions, with the cable’s own weight being one of the key variables,” explains Ibercisa Deck Machinery, which maintains close collaboration with its auxiliary partners.

With more than 50 years of history, the company offers a range of solutions from winches to LARS (Launch and Recovery Systems) – including telescopic booms, gantry cranes, piston corer deployment systems, and ROV LARS – all designed with careful consideration of operational parameters, integration within the vessel, and the dynamic behaviour of the ship, influenced by factors such as vessel geometry or the operational sea states.

Fluid communication throughout the process with both the vessel designer and the shipowner is essential to meet the final operator’s expectations. “This is precisely Ibercisa’s philosophy,” the company concludes. Ibercisa Deck Machinery’s equipment can be powered either electrically or hydraulically. Ibercisa Deck Machinery is at Nor-Shipping: Hall B•B03-04d