C-LARS DELIVERS NEW STATE OF THE ART LAUNCH AND RECOVERY SYSTEM

C-LARS delivers its new state of the art Launch and Recovery System to Helix Robotics Solutions in the United States to elevate their current fleet of systems. This hydraulic system features multiple drive winch system (CTW513) with a Scantrol mTrack Active Heave Package, 300 horsepower electro-hydraulic power unit (CTH2300), and self-erecting LARS (CTA620).

C-LARC-LARS 13T Launch and Recovery System with Integrated Active Heave Compensation (photo credit: C-LARS).

C-LARS is presenting a new generation of Launch and Recovery Systems (LARS) to the market, designed not just as an upgrade, but as a response to long-standing frustrations among offshore operators. Instead of following conventional design paths, the development team asked a simple but powerful question: “What could we do to make these systems more beneficial to the end users?

The result is a system built around real-world needs—streamlining maintenance, reducing spare parts, and improving reliability. One standout example is a redesigned A-Frame that eliminates two erect cylinders while maintaining full range of motion, simplifying the structure without compromising functionality.

"We could have designed the same types of systems that all of our competitors have designed and built worldwide, but we took a disruptive approach and integrated solutions to our customers’ paint points with their current systems, and then we designed a system that solved those problems while decreasing the number of spares. For example, our flagship A-Frame design eliminates two erect cylinders while keeping the required range of motion" said Sherman Watters, P.E., Chief Operating Officer and Director of Engineering at C-LARS. "I am excited about this system. It’s not change for change’s sake; it’s innovation in a robust system to get the job done."

The new LARS standard

The team at C-LARS is pushing the bar to meet other customer demands. From Lef to right: Adam Janac, Wes Yoakum, Sherman Watters, Daniel Breedlove.

“At C-LARS, our newest equipment design reflects lessons learned from years of building, servicing, and supporting legacy systems. We identified recurring issues and made deliberate decisions to solve them. For example, using standard motors for both the winch and level wind systems simplifies spare parts management for operators in the field. More importantly, we designed with maintainability in mind—because equipment that’s hard to service often goes un-serviced, leading to premature failure. Our goal was to create systems that are easier to maintain, last longer, and ultimately reduce lifecycle costs,” said Adam Janac, CEO at C-LARS.

The new systems also anticipate future demands, including electrification and more advanced control capabilities. A fully electric winch system, the CTW513E, is set to debut this year—optimized for dynamic operating conditions and global deployment.

“This is more than just a design update. It’s a statement of who we are: the new generation of innovators—pushing standards forward, solving real problems, and building equipment worthy of the name we put on it. I was part of a company like that once. I’m proud to be leading one now. Not only are we making design updates, but we are also pushing the bar to meet other customer demands: active heave compensation (AHC) and electrification” adds Janac.

“With an eye on both present and future industry demands, these new systems are optimized for more advanced controls, dynamic operating conditions, and the shift toward electrification. The winch system is available in an all-electric version, the CTW513E, debuting this year.  A new standard has been set for Launch and Recovery.” said Wes Yoakum, Chief Commercial Officer at C-LARs. “These systems are ideal for operations across various markets, whether in the Gulf of Mexico, offshore Brazil, the North Sea, or anywhere else globally delivering the versatility and reliability that our customers need to meet today’s challenges and prepare for tomorrow’s.”

330 AHC systems worldwide

With over 300 systems operating worldwide, Scantrol’s Active Heave Compensation (AHC) package brings trusted, field-proven technology to the C-LARS system—helping to maximize offshore uptime and ensure safe, efficient operations. Designed for precision and reliability in demanding conditions, the Scantrol AHC mTrack system offers motion-compensated control that is both easy to integrate and optimized for performance.

“We are pleased to see C-LARs advancing launch and recovery system technology, and proud that our mTrack AHC controller aligns well with the evolving needs of end users,” adds Cato Johansen, CEO at Scantrol.

About C-LARS

At C-LARS, LLC. we service, design, and manufacture Launch and Recovery Systems (LARS), Hydraulic Winches, Electric Winches, A-Frames, Knuckle Boom Cranes, Hydraulic Cylinders, Hydraulic Power Units (HPU), Sheaves, Snatchblocks and Engineered Projects for Government & Commercial Industries. With over 20 years industry experience in design, engineering, manufacturing, testing, and field service, C-LARs has the technical capability to engineer and manufacture a custom solution for any application and provide support throughout the product’s life cycle.