Winch, windlass and deck machinery repair UAE

We repair and overhaul hydraulic deck machinery across the UAE: mooring and towing winches, anchor windlasses, capstans, hatch covers, side and stern ramps, and the power units, motors, valves and cylinders that drive them. We work on board alongside, at anchorage and in drydock, with components overhauled in our Sharjah workshop.

Deck machinery lives in the worst conditions on the ship: salt spray, direct sun, sand from cargo and long periods of doing nothing followed by sudden heavy load. Most failures we see start as small leaks or slow motions that were tolerated for months.

What we work on

Mooring winches with radial-piston or high-speed motors and gearboxes, band brakes and clutch cylinders
Anchor windlasses and combined windlass-mooring winches
Capstans and warping heads
Towing and anchor-handling winches on tugs and OSVs, including brake cylinders and spooling gear
Hatch covers: folding, side-rolling and lift-away, with their cylinders, hinges, cleats and hydraulic cleating
Side, stern and internal ramps, shell doors and bow visors
Shark jaws and towing pins on anchor-handling vessels
Deck power units, central or local, with accumulators and coolers

Equipment detail is on our pages for mooring winches and windlasses and hatch covers and ramps.

How the job runs

Fault list and photos. The machine, its nameplate, the hydraulic power unit, and what it does wrong.
Quote. A quote for attendance and diagnosis, or a firm quote for a defined overhaul, typically within one working day.
Troubleshooting on board. Pressure readings on each function, pilot and brake release pressures, motor case drain, oil sample and temperature.
Report and scope. Findings with photos and readings, and what we recommend.
Repair. Motors, valves and cylinders removed to the workshop, or repaired in place where practical.
Test. Function test under load, relief and brake settings, leak checks, and a written record.

What we measure and test

Motor condition. Case drain flow on radial-piston and axial piston motors. A worn winch motor often still turns freely but cannot hold or pull at rated line pull.
Line pull and speed against the maker’s data, at a known system pressure.
Brake holding. Band brake lining condition and brake holding capacity, tested the way the maker or class specifies. Brake release cylinders checked for full release and no drag.
Hatch cover sequence. Cylinder pressures, sequence valve settings and synchronisation between panels, plus cleating cylinders and compression.
Counterbalance and load-holding valves on ramps and hatch covers, so a panel cannot run away if a hose fails.
Accumulator pre-charge on systems that rely on stored energy for emergency functions. Use our accumulator tool for sizing checks.

Common failures in UAE conditions

Corroded and pitted cylinder rods on hatch covers and ramps left extended in salt air, which then leak at the glands. See cylinder repair.
Water in oil in deck systems from spray and condensation, causing motor wear and valve corrosion.
Hot oil in summer in central deck power units, especially on hatch covers working through a full cargo operation.
Brake band wear and glazing on mooring winches, and seized brake linkages.
Hose failures at hinges and on moving panels where hoses flex every cycle. A full re-hose works out cheaper than repeated call-outs; see hose management.
Radial-piston motor wear from contaminated oil, showing as reduced pull and creep under load.

Wire rope

Where a winch or crane needs new wire, we supply and fit wire rope with its certificate, renew terminations and record the work. The cost of wire rope supply and renewal depends on diameter, construction, length and the terminations needed.

What drives the cost

Deck machinery work ranges widely in scope. A troubleshooting visit and valve repair is at the low end. A mooring winch with motor overhaul, new brake linings and hydraulic re-hosing, or a hatch cover campaign with several cylinders, sits at the high end. Size of components, removal and lifting on deck, parts lead times and the time the vessel can give us are the main factors.

What to send for a fast quote

Machine type, make and model, with nameplate photos
Photos of the motor, valve block, power unit and the fault area
Working pressure, and line pull or SWL if known
The fault and how long it has been happening
Vessel location and emirate (berth, anchorage or yard), dates available, and your deadline

Winch and windlass motors are rebuilt under pumps and motors. For OSVs and tugs, see our page for offshore and OSV operators.

Questions

Can you overhaul a winch motor without removing the winch?

Usually the motor can be removed from the winch and brought to the workshop, while the drum and gearbox stay in place. We plan the removal so the vessel keeps as much mooring capability as possible.

Our windlass is slow under load but fine when free. Why?

That pattern usually points to internal leakage in the motor or a passing relief or brake valve. We measure case drain and pressure under load to tell which.

Do you work on hatch covers during a port stay?

Yes. Hatch cover work is often planned between cargo operations. We prioritise what keeps the covers safely operable and weathertight, and schedule larger overhauls for drydock.

Can you test winch brakes?

Yes. We test brake holding in line with the maker’s or class requirements and record the result. Brake linings and release cylinders are renewed where the test or inspection shows they need it.

Do you supply new winch wire?

Yes. We supply and fit wire rope with its certificate on winches, cranes and davits.

Equipment down, or a job to plan? Send photos and the nameplate.

An engineer reads every request and replies within one working day with questions, a site visit or a proposed scope. Anywhere in the UAE.

Photos, drawings and PDFs welcome

Class-witnessed tests

All seven emirates