Render and recovery winch system configured to control a render and recovery of a towline in between a vessel and a towboat during a towing operation, in particular an escort operation, which towing winch system comprises: - a framework for supporting winch components; - a winding drum for winding and unwinding the towline in which the winding drum is rotatable supported by the framework, in which the winding drum has a drum forming a winding space in between a first and second winding drum flange (31, 32) for enclosing the towline; - a drive directly connected by a one-stage gear to the winding drum for rotating the winding drum for hauling in the towline, wherein the one-stage gear comprises a gear wheel mounted to the winding drum; - a brake connected to the winding drum for braking the winding drum for holding or paying out the towline, wherein the winding drum is positioned in between the drive and the brake, wherein the brake disc is mounted to one of the drum flanges (31, 32) and the gearwheel is mounted to the other one of the drum flanges (32,31); - a control unit for controlling the drive and the brake based on an input signal indicative of a torque exerted by the towline on the winding drum; wherein the drive comprises a plurality of brushless alternating current motors, wherein each motor has a motor housing and a motor output shaft provided with a motor gear wheel which engages to the gear wheel mounted to the winding drum, wherein the plurality of motor gear wheels and the plurality of brake calipers are all positioned in a lower half region of the gear wheel, such that the gear wheel can be lifted from the framework without demounting the motors, wherein the brake comprises at least one brake disc and a plurality of brake calipers in which each brake caliper is provided with a pair of brake pads for engaging the at least one brake disc, wherein the framework comprises a mainframe and a brake frame being arranged for supporting the plurality of brake calipers, wherein the brake frame is releasably connectable to the mainframe. - a framework for supporting winch components; - a winding drum for winding and unwinding the towline in which the winding drum is rotatable supported by the framework, in which the winding drum has a drum forming a winding space in between a first and second winding drum flange (31, 32) for enclosing the towline; - a drive directly connected by a one-stage gear to the winding drum for rotating the winding drum for hauling in the towline, wherein the one-stage gear comprises a gear wheel mounted to the winding drum; - a brake connected to the winding drum for braking the winding drum for holding or paying out the towline, wherein the winding drum is positioned in between the drive and the brake, wherein the brake disc is mounted to one of the drum flanges (31, 32) and the gearwheel is mounted to the other one of the drum flanges (32,31); - a control unit for controlling the drive and the brake based on an input signal indicative of a torque exerted by the towline on the winding drum; wherein the drive comprises a plurality of brushless alternating current motors, wherein each motor has a motor housing and a motor output shaft provided with a motor gear wheel which engages to the gear wheel mounted to the winding drum, wherein the plurality of motor gear wheels and the plurality of brake calipers are all positioned in a lower half region of the gear wheel, such that the gear wheel can be lifted from the framework without demounting the motors, wherein the brake comprises at least one brake disc and a plurality of brake calipers in which each brake caliper is provided with a pair of brake pads for engaging the at least one brake disc, wherein the framework comprises a mainframe and a brake frame being arranged for supporting the plurality of brake calipers, wherein the brake frame is releasably connectable to the mainframe.