Abstract: A winch for tightening lines and webbing on the lashing of cargos, the winch having a frame which consists of two preferably oval plates which are spaced from each other by means of cross-pieces, of which the one is used as an anchorage for the winch and the other for securing one end of the webbing, and a winding roller located between the cross-pieces and connectible to the other webbing end and having a ratchet mechanism in the form of two disks abutting against each other under the action of a spring, the disks having radial locking surfaces on their sides in abutment with each other and being movable apart for canceling the locking action by means of a clutch ring located between the disks.