From shore to seabed

Rethinking subsea operations with MDL Winches & Lifting Solutions.

In today’s evolving offshore landscape, reliable lifting and pulling capability is key — whether bringing new assets online or retiring old ones. Across oil and gas, renewables and marine sectors, contractors face mounting pressure to deliver safely, efficiently and within ever-tighter schedules. For these operations, winches and lifting systems are not simply support tools; they are the backbone of controlled, predictable performance.

At MDL, this understanding comes from experience. For over 26 years we have been designing, building and operating winches for offshore handling tasks of every scale. From our early projects in the North Sea to campaigns on four continents, we have learnt that the difference between a smooth operation and an expensive delay often lies in the detail — the right tension control, the right layout and the right people to make it work.

Fit-for-purpose systems, proven in practice

MDL’s Winches & Lifting Solutions support critical operations throughout the offshore product lifecycle.

• Shore pulls and beach landings: MDL linear winch and drum systems provide controlled product tension during pull-ins, helping to maintain cable or umbilical integrity and prevent over-stressing during transition from seabed to beach.

• Subsea installation and recovery: from SURF handling to mooring line replacements, MDL winches deliver dependable tension control on challenging operations or where deck space is limited. Each system can be deployed as a single asset or as part of an MDL back-deck spread combining HPUs, fairleads, sheaves and controls — all tailored to the vessel layout and operational envelope.

• Topside and platform scopes: compact, portable lifting solutions such as A-frames and modular winch packages can be mobilised to jack-ups or FPSOs for maintenance and decommissioning tasks to facilitate lifting, lowering or pulling operations where existing crane capacity is restricted.

• Marine support: in anchor handling, vessel positioning or ROV launch and recovery, MDL systems offer smooth, safe control in dynamic environments, integrated with other deck equipment for efficiency.

Engineered reliability

Behind every MDL spread sits a depth of engineering expertise. Each system is configured to suit the vessel, product and operational sequence, drawing on our in-house design and analysis capability. Before mobilisation, all assets undergo full testing and certification, tracked digitally through our CMMS – MDL Pulse - for complete traceability. Offshore, our multi-skilled teams work as an extension of the client’s crew, combining practical know-how with continuous communication to maintain safety and efficiency at every stage.

This integrated approach—spanning design, mobilisation, operation and demobilisation—removes the disconnects that often exist between equipment providers and project execution. The result is a smoother operation, fewer interfaces and greater confidence in schedule and performance.

From shore to seabed, MDL delivers lifting and pulling solutions that are proven, adaptable and ready for any environment—helping clients maintain control, protect assets and keep projects moving safely forward.

To learn more, head to the Winches & Lifting Solutions page.