Submersible Winch

Advantages of Submersible Winches

• ROV/AUV gains the capability to place and collect items weighing up to 170 kg.
• An ROV with a winch can be deployed at the required location, eliminating the need to move an entire support vessel and improving operating cost efficiency.
• The winch enables precise item placement and collection, unaffected by surface conditions since it operates underwater; meanwhile, a carrier platform positioned near the surface can use standard navigation.
• The winch extends ROV/AUV reach by up to 1 km; for example, if the ROV has a 3 km depth rating, with a winch it can reach 4 km (3 km ROV + 1 km winch).

Advantages of Subsea Formula Winches

• No hydraulics – no need for hydraulic infrastructure and no risk of leaks
• Cost efficiency – simple design with no seals or expensive components; just the mainframe, electric motors, Subsea Formula gearheads, kevlar cable, and fully encapsulated electronics
• Space efficiency – by housing motors and gearheads inside the drum, the design maximises use of space, avoids external protrusions, and allows for a wider drum
• Flexibility in carrier platform choice – can be mounted on an ROV, AUV, another customer’s platform, or our subsurface support platform
• Flexible cable end options – magnet, NetGrappler, other cargo capture tools, cameras, thrusters, lighting, custom tools, etc.
• Data and power transmission can be arranged with a separate cable on a synchronised secondary winch.

Use Cases

The ROV/AUV ability to lower or lift cargo is useful for the following applications:

• Underwater salvage operations – lifting submerged objects such as cargo, equipment, or vessel parts from the seabed
• UXO detection and neutralisation – deploying sensors, placing explosive charges, or retrieving small ordnance items directly from the seabed
• Scientific research – precisely deploying or recovering equipment at specific depths
• Underwater construction or maintenance – installing or repairing subsea infrastructure
• Environmental remediation and debris removal
• Other use cases as per customer requirements

Winch Specifications

Specification	Details
Depth Rating	500 m
Cable Length	1,000 m
Load Capacity	170 kg
Lifting Speed	0.1 – 1 m/s
Backlash	Zero backlash
Cable	Kevlar high strength cable
Cable End Options	– Customer’s payload placement system – Magnet for steel cargo – NetGrappler system for generic cargo – Camera and lights – Custom solutions available as per requirements
Control Interface	CAN or another
Drive Type	Fully submersible electric motors with gearheads
Operating Temperature	0°C to +38°C
IP Rating	Not applicable – water-flooded design
Materials	316 stainless steel or titanium, kevlar
Size	⌀400 mm × 500 mm
Weight	Air: 20 kg (steel), 12 kg (titanium) Water: 17.4 kg (steel), 9.3 kg (titanium)
Power	1.6 kW
Service Life	10,000+ hours for 316 stainless steel construction
Maintenance	Straightforward. No internal servicing required, no oil changes or seal replacements.

Winch Options

Below you can find a few examples of winch configurations. The final specifications are tailored to meet specific customer requirements.

Specification	WS-051002
Depth Rating	500 m
Cable Length	1,000 m
Load Capacity	170 kg
Lifting Speed	0.1 - 1 m/s
Material	316 steel
Size	⌀400 mm, length 500 mm
Air Weight	20 kg
Water Weight	12 kg
Power	1.6 kW

More advanced specifications can be provided following development.