A load-bearing apparatus (100) comprises a winch apparatus (110), and a load-bearing spoolable medium (120) for connecting to a load, the load-bearing spoolable medium comprising a plurality of load-bearing elements (121-123); wherein at least a portion of the load-bearing spoolable medium is spooled about the winch apparatus. The provision of multiple load-bearing elements may help reduce the diameter appropriate for the winch apparatus, while maintaining the necessary load bearing capacity for supporting, paying in and/or paying out the load. The load-bearing apparatus may comprise a tension control apparatus (151-153) for controlling, applying and/or adjusting the tension of the load-bearing spoolable medium.

The lifting device includes a first drum around which a wire is wound, a first motor that rotates the first drum, a second drum around which the wire fed from the first drum is wound, and a second motor that rotates the second drum. The first motor is driven to rotate the first drum so as to lift the wire, and the second motor is driven to rotate the second drum to lift the wire fed from the first drum.

Apparatus for adjusting the length of a support sling includes a set of pulleys and may be useful, for example, to allow a moving device to keep an object level when being transported.

Disclosed is a system for the storage and traction of a cable, in particular a synthetic cable fitted to an offshore crane. The storage/traction system includes a frame that carries in particular a storage device including a support carrying a storage reel through an assembly defining an axis of rotation. Between the storage reel and the support, the assembly includes of a single slewing ring including two rings that are free to rotate with respect to each other: a fixed ring that is fastened to the support; and a moving ring that is, on the one hand, fastened to the storage reel and, on the other hand, rotated by a motorization.

A method of spooling a crane rope (2) onto a crane drum through a crane rope spooling system (1) from a reel (31) under a predetermined back tension is described and includes the steps of: unspooling the crane rope (2) from a reel (31) and passing the crane rope through a tensioning system (10) comprising a primary back tensioner (12) and a secondary back tensioner (16); gripping the crane rope (2) within the secondary back tensioner (16) and thereby preloading the crane rope (2) with tension prior to the crane rope (2) passing through the primary back tensioner (12); and applying a predetermined back tension to the crane rope (2) with the primary back tensioner (12) as the crane rope (2) is being spooled onto the crane drum under the predetermined back tension. A crane rope spooling system (1) for spooling crane rope (2) onto a crane drum under a predetermined back tension is also described, said system (10) comprising a tensioning system (10) comprising at least a primary back tensioner (12) and a secondary back tensioner (16) and a reel (31).

Disclosed is a system for the storage and traction of a cable, in particular a synthetic cable fitted to an offshore crane. The storage/traction system includes a frame that carries in particular a storage device including a support carrying a storage reel through an assembly defining an axis of rotation. Between the storage reel and the support, the assembly includes of a single slewing ring including two rings that are free to rotate with respect to each other: —a fixed ring that is fastened to the support; and —a moving ring that is, on the one hand, fastened to the storage reel and, on the other hand, rotated by a motorization.

The invention concerns a hoisting cable formed of a steel core coated at its periphery with a textile sheath, wherein said textile sheath is a sheath directly braided on the steel core and made of an abrasion-resistant synthetic material.

A mooring post unit is provided with a cable holding device on top of the mooring post. The cable holding device has a first pulley wheel, a second pulley wheel and a cable clamp, arranged to guide a mooring cable from a ship over the first pulley wheel to the clamp, back and forth via the second pulley wheel. A hydraulic force limiter is coupled between the second pulley wheel and the mooring post. The hydraulic force is expandable and compressible in the direction of a force exerted by the axis of the pulley wheel. The hydraulic force limiter temporarily gives way when a peak in the force exceeds a threshold. The clamp comprises a pair of drums, around which the mooring cable runs back and forth. By synchronously rotating the drums, the mooring cable may be hauled in or paid out under stress.

The invention concerns a hoisting cable formed of a steel core coated at its periphery with a textile sheath, wherein said textile sheath is a sheath directly braided on the steel core and made of an abrasion-resistant synthetic material.

A lift system comprises a drum that rotates about an axis, an elongate member that winds around the drum when the drum rotates in a first direction and that unwinds from the drum when the drum rotates in a second direction, a drive mechanism operable to rotate the drum, and a braking mechanism adapted to inhibit rotation of the drum. The braking mechanism includes a brake disk rotatable with the drum, a movable brake pad, and a ramp that guides movement of the movable brake pad. A method of operating the lift system comprises rotating the drum in a first direction to wind the elongate member onto the drum, rotating the drum in a second direction to unwind the elongate member from the drum, and moving the brake shoe along the ramp to thereby cause the movable brake pad to be compressed against the brake disk.