Smart Tools for marine technicians

In marine technology, we are often faced with similar difficulties when working onboard a ship or in a workshop. Tools and tricks can be god's gift to the engineer to get the work done in a safe, time-saving and standardized way. Although available, they may not always be easily accessible. Over time, we have come across numerous useful tools and tricks, on the market or as in-house developments, that we wish to share with the marine technology community. Here, we present the tools and tricks that are available at this very moment, including the address where to purchase the item or to get acccess otherwise. Moreover, we invite you to help us building this data base by submitting your tools, tips and tricks.

If one wishes to add a new item, please drop us an e-mail on the address below and we'll post it if suitable as soon as possible:

inmartools@nioz.nl

Further information:
Jack Schilling (Head MTec Mechanics)
T +31(0)222 369 304
@ jack.schilling(at)nioz.nl

Coring tools

Lathe for (shipboard) core liner joint construction

Deep coring in consolidated sediments require thick-walled core liners to avoid bending and imploding. We developed a lathe for an easy manufacturing of male/female joint ends. It has been used successfully in our workshops as well as onboard our ships.

NIOZ lathe for making liner joints

NIOZ lathe cutting a male end to a thick-walled liner

For more information, please contact Jack Schilling:
T +31 (0)222 369 304
@jack.schilling(at)nioz.nl

Aid for disassembling coring pipes

	For disassembling coring pipes we devloped a simple tool which can be mounted to a ship's railing. Using a strap and a pulley, sections can be easily taken apart from the lower end, while the heavy head secures the top end of the corer.

For further information, please contact Jack Schilling: T +31 (0)222 368 304 @ jack.schilling(at)nioz.nl

Mooring tools

Cable stopper

A cable stopper is used to secure the mooring line while replacing gear or instruments. It's a simple tool that greatly improves safety conditions onboard the ship.

	Instruments can be safely replaced while the mooring line is fixed.




The cable stopper can be used in various positions depending on the situation.

For more information, please contact Jack Schilling: T +31 (0)222 369 304 @ jack.schilling(at)nioz.nl

Quick releases

Quick releases are frequently used for deploying drifters and ballast weight. The various types of releases differ with respect to their safety of operation. The perfect release should allow swift operation when under maximum loading, but should never release spontaneously.

Type of quick release		Drawback
		This release is hard to activate and is therefore not reliable during full loading. In our practise, we release the gear by extending the cable while tying the release rope to the ship's railing.

		This type of release is triggered too easy and therefore not useful for less-than-optimal weather conditions.

		This is a so called 'Quick release'. During operation, safety is improved by an extra safety-pin (to be removed with the release cord) and a spring ball. Various types of this Quick release are available, all safe and relatively cheap.

Our suggestions:

1. Sea Catch Toggle Release

		We came across this quick release in Indonesian waters, used by an Australian technician. The Sea Catch Toggle Release, now sold in over 43 countries world wide, is a mechanical quick release that is designed exclusively for releasing an object or line under load. With a patented, well-thought-out design, it uses over-center toggle linkage to safely secure a load, release a load and dampen shock.
Input Jack
		Working principle Sea Catch Toggle Release

		For more info click on the product sheet which will direct you to the Seacatch webpages

2. Cranston-Eagle quick release

Roger Arsenault (DRDC Canada): "We use a quick release hook made by Cranston Eagle that is a quick release. The only difference is that is only performs the release under very little load."

APR-206-CB and CBH SWL/WLL: 2000 kg (6:1) Davit mounted off-load hook Quick release type with pull-cable Models -CB and -CBH are similar except that -CBH model is fitted with two handles and tag line shackles. The hook is completely made of stainless steel. Approved by US Coast Guard SOLAS, USCG Approval No. 160.133/35/0 For more technical information see spec sheet: APR-206-CB APR-206-CBH Company website: http://www.eagleproducts.fi


Model CB	Model CB	Model CBH	Model CBH	Hook open

Wide body mooring block

Fishery mooring blocks are frequently used in ocean research. However, they often suffer from a small bend radius, damaging the cables used. Moreover, the width of the wheel is too narrow to allow the passage of conventional shackles and links. We developed the wide body mooring block depicted below, which has a wider and larger diameter wheel to meet the specs of the cables and to accommodate the the shackles and links we use.

NIOZ wide body mooring block resting

NIOZ wide body mooring block in action

Technical plan for the NIOZ wide body mooring block.

For more information, please contact Jack Schilling:
T +31 (0)222 369 304
@ jack.schilling(at)nioz.nl

Cables & Winches

Cable terminal for NIOZ super aramid cable

For our new Super Aramid Cable with a glasfiber core, we developed a new cable terminal. Conventional cable terminal have a small bend radius which will damage the glassfiber core. We designed our own cable terminal with a larger bend radius to avoid damage.

Super Aramid cable terminal design phase.

cable terminal for NIOZ super Aramid Cable

Cable terminal connected to the frame of the Hopper camera

Detailed view of the connection.

For more information, please contact Jack Schilling:
T +31 (0)222 369 304
@ jack.schilling(at)nioz.nl

'Clam cleat'; a simple device for quickly mounting gear to a rope

A deceptively simple ridged 'V' groove holds ropes firmly, yet is devoid of any moving parts to break or seize. It allows the immediate release of the rope by a short upward and backward pull.