Fairlead Classification

The fairlead is an appliance that guides the cable through and exchanges directions or restricts its exit position, so that the cable is protected from abrasion. Mainly include fairleads, roller fairleads, guide rollers, guide rollers, fairleads, rotating fairleads and roller fairleads.

Fairlead

The fairlead is a clamp-like fairlead installed on the top surface of the bulwark in the area where there is no railing on the side of the ship. The cable tied to the bollard shall be guided to the dock or buoy through the fairlead to avoid damage to the railing or other equipment on the ship when the ship moves under the action of external force.

The fairlead can be divided into two types with rollers and without rollers. Roller-less fairleads are usually used on small ships. There are two types of non-roller fairleads: straight type and inclined type. Inclined fairleads will prevent the noose from jumping upwards. For example, when small boats are tied to the side of a large ship, use diagonal fairleads. Generally large and medium-sized ships use roller fairleads, which are divided into single roller, double roller and multiple rollers. The roller fairlead can reduce the abrasion of the mooring cable, and the multi-roller fairlead can lead out several cables at the same time. Fairleads are all cast, mainly cast iron and cast steel. A sketch of the fairlead.

Roller Fairlead

Roller fairleads are generally installed on the ship's side and consist of several rollers standing side by side. Because the roller fairlead is simple in manufacturing process and saves materials, it is mostly used on large ships.

Fairlead

Fairleads, also known as Panama holes, are round or oval steel castings. The fairlead is generally embedded in the bulwark (mostly seen in ships). When the mooring cable passes through it, the contact surface is arc-shaped, which avoids the cutting effect of the bulwark on the system and facilitates the smooth passage of the mooring pipa head. However, fairleads wear more seriously to the system.

Rotating fairlead

A pair of pulleys are eccentrically mounted on a rotatable round seat plate in the rotating fairlead hole, and the mooring cable passes through the pulleys. The rope changes direction, and the pulling force of the rope causes the round seat plate to rotate, so that the rope is always pressed on the pulley below. For ships with constant tension system vehicles, rotating fairleads should generally be configured to automatically adjust the rope direction and reduce friction.

Roller fairlead

The roller fairlead is a fairlead composed of vertical and horizontal rollers installed on the side of the gunwale. It can guide cables from any direction.

Guide roller

The guide roller is installed on the circular base on the deck and is located between the side fairlead and the winch, and is used to change the direction of the rope so as to lead to the drum. The horns beside the rollers prevent the mooring line from rolling down onto the deck when the mooring line is slack.

Guide roller

The guide roller is installed at the end of the deck and is a fairlead with a cylindrical roller. It is often used as a fairlead between the upper and lower decks or the rope for guiding the lifting lifeboat and working boat.