Electric Vertical Anchor Capstan with Gypsy & Warping Head | Ship Anchor Chain

Product Specification

Electric Vertical Anchor Capstan with Gypsy & Warping Head | Ship Anchor Chain Handling

Product Overview

The electric vertical anchor capstan is a vertically arranged ship deck machine used to heave and pay out the vessel’s anchor chain through a matched cable lifter / gypsy. A warping head on the same unit provides an additional rope-handling function for warping or light line-handling operations when specified. The typical electric arrangement includes a marine electric motor, reduction gearbox, vertical drive shaft, chain gypsy, warping head, clutch, brake, local controls, and electrical control cabinet.

The supplied series covers anchor chain diameters from 12.5 to 70 mm with separate reference working-load values for AM2 and AM3 chain grades. For this electric product page, the hydraulic motor and valve-block wording in the original description is not used; those components belong to a hydraulic or electro-hydraulic variant. Final selection must be based on the approved anchoring arrangement, exact chain diameter and grade, chain pitch and geometry, anchor mass, required heaving performance, brake / holding requirement, deck foundation, power supply, control philosophy, and classification society rules.

Quick Specifications

• Drive: Electric motor with reduction gearbox → selected to suit shipboard voltage, frequency, motor duty, starting method, and class requirement.
• Anchor chain range: 12.5–70 mm → cable lifter / gypsy must match the exact chain diameter, grade, pitch, and approved chain geometry.
• Reference anchor-chain working load: AM2 6.6–208.3 kN / AM3 14.6–232.8 kN → values reproduced from the supplied table and not to be renamed as SWL or breaking load.
• Nominal chain speed: ≥ 9 m/min in the supplied model table → the separate 9–18 m/min warping-speed statement should be confirmed for the selected configuration.
• Warping load: 5–200 kN → separate from anchor-chain working load and applicable only to the warping-head function.
• Warping head diameter: 200–700 mm → final profile and rope compatibility should follow the selected line size and project drawing.
• Control: Local or remote control available → control station location, emergency stop, interlocks, indication, and remote-control scope to be confirmed.
• Classification / testing: Available according to project requirement → design approval, material traceability, FAT, load test, brake test, and class witnessing are agreed before production.

Main Technical Parameters

Anchor Chain & Cable-Lifter Matching

• The chain gypsy / cable lifter is the anchor-chain working element. Its pockets must match the approved stud-link chain geometry; chain diameter alone is not enough for final machining.
• Confirm chain grade AM2 or AM3, nominal diameter, actual pitch, link width, stud-link geometry, chain certificate, and mating chain stopper before production.
• The AM2 / AM3 working-load columns are model-selection data supplied for the anchor-chain function. They must not be converted into chain proof load, chain breaking load, brake holding load, or product SWL without the governing rule basis.
• If replacement equipment is being supplied, the existing chain sample, chain certificate, gypsy drawing, or measured link geometry should be provided to avoid pocket mismatch and abnormal chain seating.
• A chain stopper is a separate anchoring-system component when required by the approved vessel arrangement; the capstan brake should not automatically be treated as the only permanent anchor-securing device.

Selection & Inquiry Guide

Step 1: Confirm the product as an electric vertical anchor capstan and provide vessel type, class society, anchor arrangement drawing, anchor weight, and whether the unit serves one anchor or a combined anchoring / warping station.

Step 2: Confirm anchor chain diameter, AM2 / AM3 grade, chain standard, pitch / geometry, chain stopper type, chain-pipe position, hawse-pipe lead, and required nominal heaving speed.

Step 3: Confirm warping-head duty separately: rope or wire-rope type, diameter, required warping load, expected line lead, and whether the warping function is occasional or routine.

Step 4: Provide ship electrical data: voltage, frequency, phase, available starting current, motor duty, required enclosure / protection, space-heater requirement, brake supply, and control voltage.

Step 5: Confirm control philosophy: local pedestal / pushbutton station, bridge or remote control, emergency stop, direction indication, overload protection, limit / interlock requirements, and interface signals.

Step 6: Provide deck foundation and installation information, quantity, certificate / FAT scope, painting system, delivery destination, required delivery time, and any approved maker-list requirement.

Main Components

Marine electric motor | Reduction gearbox | Vertical drive shaft | Cable lifter / anchor-chain gypsy | Warping head | Clutch | Band or project-specific brake | Bearings and lubrication system | Base / foundation structure | Local control station | Electrical control cabinet | Guards and inspection access according to approved design

Electric Drive & Control

• The electric motor and gearbox are selected as a system. Required torque depends on the selected chain load, gypsy effective radius, mechanical efficiency, speed, acceleration, and service duty.
• Shipboard motor selection should confirm rated voltage, frequency, duty, insulation system, enclosure, ambient condition, anti-condensation heating, starting method, and protection coordination; these values are project-specific and are not assumed on this page.
• For multi-speed motor entries in the supplied table, the purchaser should confirm which speed corresponds to anchor heaving, warping, inching, or other operating modes.
• Remote control should not be described only as an electrical option. The final control philosophy should define local priority, emergency stop, brake / clutch interlocks, direction command, overload trip, status indication, and loss-of-power behaviour.
• Where a variable-frequency drive is required, motor cooling, low-speed torque, braking method, harmonics, enclosure location, and class-approved electrical design should be confirmed.

Brake, Clutch & Operational Safety

• The clutch allows the cable lifter to be connected to or disconnected from the powered drive according to the anchoring procedure. The actual clutch type and engagement indication follow the approved maker design.
• The brake controls the cable lifter during anchor lowering and provides holding capability according to the specified rule / design basis. Brake holding load is not supplied in the current data and must be confirmed separately.
• Anchor letting-go, controlled paying-out, heaving, warping, and chain securing are different operating conditions. Their load cases, brake use, chain-stopper use, and operator sequence should be defined in the vessel’s approved arrangement.
• Guards, safe access, manual release / emergency arrangements, lubrication points, inspection covers, and operating labels should be included according to the final design and class requirements.
• This anchor capstan handles the ship’s own anchoring system. It should not be described as an offshore anchor-handling winch or as a general lifting appliance.

Installation & Deck Integration

• The vertical arrangement can reduce deck footprint compared with some horizontal windlass layouts, but sufficient space is still required for the gypsy, warping head, brake / clutch operation, motor / gearbox service, and chain lead.
• Gypsy alignment with the hawse pipe, chain pipe, and chain stopper is critical. Poor lead can cause uneven chain seating, side loading, accelerated pocket wear, and difficult clutch / brake operation.
• The deck foundation should be checked for operational loads, brake / holding reactions, gearbox torque, local plate stiffness, weld details, and access for installation and maintenance.
• Where drive components are arranged below deck, shaft penetration, sealing, access, ventilation, drainage, electrical cable routing, and removal space should be confirmed from the GA drawing.
• Final foundation loads, bolt / weld details, deck reinforcement, centre heights, and chain lead angles must come from the approved equipment and vessel drawings rather than generic catalogue values.

Custom Attributes

• Product Type: Electric vertical anchor capstan → vertical-axis anchoring machine with cable lifter / gypsy and optional warping function.
• Chain Range: 12.5–70 mm → confirm exact chain grade and calibrated geometry before gypsy manufacture.
• Reference Chain Working Load: AM2 6.6–208.3 kN / AM3 14.6–232.8 kN → supplied selection values, not SWL or chain breaking load.
• Nominal Chain Speed: ≥ 9 m/min → final guaranteed speed follows the approved selected model and test condition.
• Warping Load: 5–200 kN → separate line-handling function on the warping head.
• Warping Head: 200–700 mm stated range → final diameter, profile, finish, and rope compatibility to be confirmed.
• Drive: Electric → marine motor, gearbox, brake, and control package selected to vessel electrical supply.
• Control: Local / remote → final functions, interlocks, alarms, and indications defined by control philosophy.
• Certificate Requirement: According to project scope → class design approval, product certificate, FAT witness, and material traceability are available when ordered and accepted by class.

How It Works

Electric motor starts → Reduction gearbox drives the vertical shaft → Clutch connects the cable lifter when anchor-chain operation is required → Gypsy engages the matched anchor chain to heave or pay out → Brake controls / holds the cable lifter according to the operating procedure → Warping head can be used separately for approved rope-handling duty

Applications

Merchant vessels | Cargo ships | Tankers | Workboats | Tugs and service vessels | Inland / coastal vessels subject to project rules | Newbuilding anchor stations | Replacement of existing vertical anchor capstan / vertical windlass arrangements

Certifications & Testing

Design review, manufacturing inspection, factory acceptance testing, material traceability, and class witnessing can be arranged according to the vessel’s classification society, flag requirements, approved technical specification, and agreed inspection plan. Certificate scope should be confirmed before quotation.

Certification: CCS, NK, BV, ABS, DNV, LR, KR, IRS, RS, RINA, CRS, Makers Test Certificate.

Drawing & Photos

FAQ

Q1: Is an anchor capstan the same as a normal mooring capstan?

A1: No. This unit includes a cable lifter / gypsy for the vessel’s anchor chain and is therefore part of the anchoring machinery. The warping head can provide an additional rope-handling function, but the anchor-chain working load, warping load, brake requirement, and operating modes remain separate.

Q2: What information is most important for selecting the correct gypsy?

A2: Provide chain diameter, AM2 / AM3 grade, governing chain standard, chain pitch and link geometry, chain certificate, and preferably an approved chain drawing or replacement sample. A gypsy selected only by nominal diameter can have poor chain seating if the actual chain geometry differs.

Q3: What must be confirmed before ordering the electric drive package?

A3: Confirm ship voltage, frequency, phase, motor duty, starting method, available power, protection / enclosure requirement, local and remote control functions, emergency stop philosophy, cable routing, class society, and FAT / witness scope. Brake holding requirement and deck foundation loads should also be confirmed.