Hydrodynamic Winch for Salvage Operations

Abstract

Lifting or lowering of very heavy loads in the ocean (1000 tons or more) from any depth under controlled conditions has proven to be very difficult. Lifting very heavy loads from great depths using the present winching or lifting methods is for practical purposes nonexistent. Pontoons and winches have been used for limited loads and limited depths. The problem of breakout forces, buoyancy controls, dynamic wave induced cable stresses, etc., have made very heavy lifts from the ocean depths almost impossible to perform. The Hydrodynamic Winch is a proposed solution to the very heavy undersea lift and control problem.