China Navigation orders Cargotec cranes

The Cargotec VFD handling cranes will be for a series of four 39,500 dwt bulk carriers, Bdelta37 type. Each vessel will be equipped kitted out with four GLBE 3026-2 MacGregor cranes.

Per-Erik Nilsson, sales and marketing director, Cargotec, said: “MacGregor VFD cranes offer many advantages. They have fewer moving parts and the life expectancy of the components is greater than with electro-hydraulic systems. Therefore, maintenance and repair is much easier. Nevertheless, our fully electric cranes inherit the best characteristics of the previous GL series of electro-hydraulic cranes. All the machinery is enclosed within the central housing, providing protection from harsh weather, corrosion and mechanical damage.”

He added: “Efficiency savings are mainly attributable to a 30 to 35% reduction in power compared to Macgregor’s closed loop electro-hydraulic cranes and between 60 to 70% for open loop cranes plus faster and more accurate hook and grab positioning, which reduces time spent in port. Together, these factors will result in significantly lower fuel consumption in port thereby lowering the carbon footprint.”

CNCo is the deep-sea ship-owning and operating arm of the Swire group of companies and is wholly-owned by the group’s parent company, John Swire & Sons. In 2006, as part of a drive to increase its environmental performance, CNCo made the decision to evaluate the benefits of a MacGregor electrically-driven crane.

The electric crane trial was part of a major upgrade of existing 20-year-old MacGregor electro-hydraulic cranes on the company’s four 41,500 dwt D-Class multi-purpose ships. In March 2007 a VFD electric crane was installed on Pacific Flores, replacing the vessel’s existing No 2 crane. At the time of fitting, CNCo said that if the trial proved successful, electric cranes would be considered for future newbuilds and conversions.

The vessels will be built at Chengxi shipyard in China and are expected to be delivered in 2013 and 2014. There is a possibility of another order for a further six vessels.