MacGregor crane for new AHTS vessel for China

MacGregor, part of Cargotec, has secured an order from Wuchang Shipbuilding Industry for a 100-tonne safe working load (SWL) active heave-compensated subsea crane. The MacGregor crane will be installed on an anchor-handling tug supply (AHTS) vessel, currently under construction for the offshore specialist, China Oilfield Services Limited.

Wuchang Shipbuilding Industry, which is a subsidiary of one of China's largest shipbuilders, China Shipbuilding Industry Corporation, plans to deliver the Rolls-Royce UT788-design vessel in March 2015.

Once operational, the vessel will perform offshore services in the South China Sea. It will also have the capability to carry out deepwater and ultra-deepwater work in other offshore areas such as Brazil, West Africa, the Gulf of Mexico and the North Sea.

A spokesperson from MacGregor said: “Our cargo flow solutions integrate cargo access, stowage, care and handling functions to suit a particular ship's cargo profile. This benefits its productivity, environmental impact and profitable service lifetime.”    

MacGregor provides engineering solutions and services for handling marine cargoes and offshore loads. The company’s products are designed to serve the maritime transportation, offshore and naval logistics markets, in ports and terminals as well as on board ships. Cargotec's sales totalled approximately EUR 3.2bn in 2013 and it employs around 11,000 people.

Other recent news from MacGregor concerns an order for lashing bridges for three 18,000 TEU containerships to be built at Waigaoqiao Shipyard in China. The contract includes the design and fabrication of the lashing bridge steel structure of approximately 5,400 tons, and an option for three further vessels.