Barge coupling basics: winches, D-rings and chocks working together
How a 40-ton barge connecting winch, its D-ring and the chocks around it hold a tow together.
Short answer
A barge connecting winch tensions wire rope between barges; D-rings attach the winch to the deck, button chocks hold the eye of the wire and open wire chocks guide it. Sinooutput's BC-40 offers 40-ton holding capacity and 10,000 lb typical line tension.
The winch
Barge connecting winches sit on the port and starboard corners of the line deck and stern. The UMC-BC-40 combines a precision double-dog ratchet for fine final tensioning, a large ratchet lever, a hand-operated brake for controlled release and a spinner hand wheel for fast slack take-up.
| Holding dog / brake capacity | 40 tons |
|---|---|
| Typical line tension | 10,000 lb |
| Drum flange diameter | 14 in |
| Drum capacity ¾" / ⅞" / 1" | 96 ft / 85 ft / 70 ft |
The fittings around it
- D-ring (UMC-196) attaches the winch to the deck and doubles as a closed chock.
- Button chocks 6"–10" hold the eye of the wire when making up a tow.
- Open wire chocks (UMC-149) guide wire as the tow is made up.
Keep it working
The BC-40 is hot-dip galvanized with fully enclosed drum and gearing, bronze shaft bushings and easy-access grease zerks. Its open bottom lets water and debris clear out, cutting maintenance downtime.
Frequently asked questions
What is the holding capacity of the UMC-BC-40?
40 tons holding dog/brake capacity, with a typical line tension of 10,000 lb.
How much wire does the BC-40 drum hold?
96 ft of ¾" wire, 85 ft of ⅞" or 70 ft of 1".
