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LARS with Diving Bell [Model: 1 T]

The hydraulic drive of our diving bell LARS ensures smooth and precise control during launching and recovery. This guarantees operational safety even in heavy seas, eliminating dangerous jerks and ensuring platform stability. The design combines high power with compact dimensions and exceptional reliability.

The 1T capacity model is a mobile LARS built on a U-frame with two winches, designed for the safe launching and recovery of a diving bell with two divers at a load of up to 1 ton. The design provides high mobility and autonomy: compact dimensions for transport and independent power from an onboard pump unit allow for rapid system deployment on any vessel.

Configuration

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LARS with Diving Bell 1T 3D Model Base

Base

(highlighted in red)

The base is a welded steel structure serving as the mounting platform for all components of the launching and recovery system. It is secured to the deck at six points using standard marine container twist-locks, ensuring a reliable and stable attachment for the entire system.

Frame

(highlighted in red)

The frame is a movable load-bearing structure that manages the luffing of the diving bell overboard and back on deck. It is equipped with two winches: one for hoisting and another for the guide wire. Inductive limit switches monitor the frame’s extreme positions (“outboard” and “inboard”). In the stowed position, it is securely held by two turnbuckles, while a locking system secures the frame during both operation and standby.

LARS with Diving Bell 1T 3D Model Frame
LARS with Diving Bell 1T 3D Model Hoisting Winch

Hoisting winch

(highlighted in red)

The hoisting winch manages the direct launching and recovery of the diving bell using a load-bearing wire rope. It is equipped with a hydraulic geared motor and a dual-circuit braking system for maximum safety: a gearbox brake (torque ≥ 2700 N·m) and a caliper brake on the drum (torque ≥ 1900 N·m).

Guide wire winch

(highlighted in red)

The guide wire winch performs two key functions: it guides and maintains the vertical position of the bell during launching/recovery and manages the movement of the ballast. In an emergency, should the primary hoisting winch fail, it serves as a redundant system to ensure the bell’s recovery.

The winch is equipped with a hydraulic geared motor and a dual-circuit brake to guarantee stopping and load holding: a gearbox brake (torque ≥ 1580 N·m) and a caliper brake on the drum (torque ≥ 1130 N·m).

LARS with Diving Bell 1T 3D Model Guide Wire Winch
LARS with Diving Bell 1T 3D Model Hydraulic Cylinders

Hydraulic cylinders

(highlighted in red)

The hydraulic cylinders, installed between the base and the A-frame, enable the system’s transition between operational and stowed positions by luffing the frame overboard and back. Equipped with a braking system, the design guarantees an immediate stop and secure fixation at any point.

Diving bell

(highlighted in red)

The diving bell is a prefabricated metal structure designed to accommodate two specialists with full gear. Its launching and recovery are managed by the hoisting and guide wire winches.

To ensure underwater stability, the bell is equipped with ballast attached beneath it. In the stowed position, the ballast is secured to the structure for transport convenience, and when necessary, it functions as a redundant lifting element.

LARS with Diving Bell 1T 3D Model Diving Bell

Standard Configuration and Options

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Standard configuration:

  • Base
  • Frame
  • U-frame luffing hydraulic cylinders
  • Brackets and locks
  • Hoisting wire rope
  • Guide wire rope
  • Control console
  • Hoisting winch
  • Guide wire winch
  • Hydraulic equipment installation
  • Electrical equipment set
  • Transport frame
  • Hydraulic Power Unit (HPU)
  • Diesel-pump unit
  • Diving bell assembly

Optional:

  • Additional control stations
  • Floodlights
  • Custom paint color
  • Winch constant tension function

Documentation:

The following documentation provided with the LARS:

DocumentQuantity
Product Data Sheet1
Installation, Commissioning, and Adjustment Manual1
Operating Manual1
Onboard Test Program and Methodology1
Declaration of Materials (DM)1
Supplier’s Declaration of Conformity (SDoC)1

3D simulation

About

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Imagine this: the ship is rolling in the waves, the water overboard is cold and murky, and you need to send people down to a depth of 60 meters to work—perhaps to weld pipes or inspect a sunken object. Simply jumping overboard is out of the question—it’s too dangerous and inefficient. For this task, true engineering masterpieces exist: Launching and Recovery Systems (LARS). This is not just a winch with a cable, but a sophisticated complex that ensures diver safety in a hostile marine environment.

Working at Angles and in Storms

The primary mission of this device is to deliver divers to their working depth and bring them back. It sounds simple, but in reality, engineers had to solve numerous problems. First, the vessel is never stationary—it can have a heel of up to 5 degrees and a trim (bow or aft tilt) of up to 2 degrees. Second, sea conditions can reach state 4. The entire structure is designed to remain fully operational under these challenging conditions.

What Is It Made Of?

At the core of the entire system lies a massive welded base made of 09G2S steel (a specialized shipbuilding grade). It is secured to the vessel’s deck at six points using standard container “twist-locks,” allowing for rapid installation or dismantling. All other elements are mounted on this foundation, which weighs nearly three tons (with the total system exceeding 3,200 kg).

The heart of the moving part is the U-frame. It luffs overboard, carrying two divers in a specialized bell. The frame’s movement is powered by two robust hydraulic cylinders with a 125 mm piston diameter. To prevent the frame from jerking under load, specialized brake valves are installed on the cylinders—they prevent it from falling under its own weight.

Why Are There Two Wire Ropes?

Anyone who has used an elevator knows there is a cable and a counterweight. The principle here is similar but more complex. The system utilizes two wire ropes, each with its own role.

The first, a 11.5 mm diameter hoisting rope, is directly connected to the bell. This is what actually lifts the divers. Its safety factor is colossal—it is 10 times stronger than required to lift the maximum load.

The second rope, slightly thinner at 9 mm, serves as the guide wire. It is attached to a heavy ballast—a 200 kg weight that is the first to go underwater. This rope is threaded through blocks on the bell and the ballast, creating something akin to a guide rail. Thanks to this, the bell is not spun by the current and moves strictly vertically.

The most fascinating part, however, is the safety system. If the primary hoisting rope or its winch fails, the guide wire automatically takes over the hoisting function. It will begin lifting the bell by bearing against the ballast. This is a classic example of engineering redundancy, where the failure of a single component does not lead to disaster.

How Is It Controlled?

All the hydraulic power—two 11 kW electric motors and a 130-liter oil tank—is housed in a separate unit. The operator manages the system via a remote console, which features the highest level of protection against water and sea salt (IP56). The console provides everything necessary: levers for controlling the A-frame and winches, an emergency mushroom button that can be struck in case of danger, and, crucially, a diving depth indicator.

To prevent the divers from crashing into the frame during recovery, the system is equipped with automation. A specialized limit switch on the bracket cuts off the lift as soon as the bell reaches the top. Additionally, inductive sensors on the winches monitor the wire rope to ensure it doesn’t unreel completely, sending a stop signal at the very last moment.

Invisible Cleanliness

The most surprising aspect of such systems is the cleanliness requirements. This isn’t about the deck, but about the hydraulic oil. There must be no particles in the oil larger than 12-16 microns (which is thinner than a human hair). If dirt gets inside, the valves and pumps can fail instantly. Therefore, filling the system is a complete ritual that prevents any dust or debris from entering.

A launching and recovery system is not just a piece of metal, but a sophisticated mechanism designed for a 30-year service life. It is engineered so that even in an extreme situation, divers have a chance to return to the vessel. Behind every movement stands not only hydraulic power but also mathematical precision intended to conquer the harsh elements of the ocean.

Dimensions

LARS with Diving Bell Model 1T Dimensions

Technical specifications

ParameterValue
LARS drive typeHydraulic
Hoisting mechanism lifting capacity, kg, not less than750 kg
Luffing frame lifting capacity, kg, not less than950 kg
Guide wire mechanism lifting capacity, kg, not less than950 kg
Outreach, m1,2 m
Winch rope winding speed, m/min3…15 m/min
Bell launching/recovery height, m, not less than70 m
Rated power of LARS electric motors, kW2×11 kW
Total LARS weight (including bell and ballast), kg, not more than3250 kg

General Requirements and Standards

  • The equipment complies with the «General Provisions for Technical Supervision» of the Russian Maritime Register of Shipping (RS) and is supplied with a Type Approval Certificate.
  • The equipment complies with the requirements of the Technical Regulation on the Safety of Maritime Transport.

Regulatory compliance

The equipment complies with the following requirements:

  • General Regulations of the Russian Maritime Register of Shipping (RS);
  • Technical Regulation on the Safety of Maritime Transport (Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 620 dated August 12, 2010);
  • SP 2.5.3650-20 (Sanitary and Epidemiological Requirements for Transport);
  • Other applicable requirements of Russian legislation, including sanitary and veterinary regulations, occupational health and safety requirements, and industrial safety requirements;
  • The equipment also complies with all amendments and supplements in force as of the vessel’s keel-laying date (Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 719);
  • Supervision of installation and commissioning services;
  • Confirmation of industrial product manufacturing within the territory of the Russian Federation (Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 719 dated July 17, 2015).