Cargotec MacGREGOR business area has won hatch cover orders for conversion project that will see four tankers converted into bulk carriers, this follows the previous conversion of the 147,000 dwt motor tanker Sea Max for Everlast Shipping S.A.MacGREGOR has received further hatch cover orders from the Everlast Shipping S.A. of Greece, for a further four tanker to bulker conversion projects. Last year MacGREGOR received an order to supply hatch covers for the conversion of the 147,000 dwt tanker Sea Max. The total order value of these new contracts is around u201a9 million and the hatch covers will be delivered to the conversion yards in the second quarter of 2009.
MacGREGOR scope of supply for these four 154,000 dwt vessels - Timeless, Flawless, Priceless and Stopless include hatch cover design, key components, hatch cover manufacture and installation assistance.
When converting tankers to bulk carriers it is beneficial to involve hatch cover specialists from the start in order not to risk the project completion time and to get the ships earning again as soon as possible, says Pertti Vilhonen, head of the Service division major project unit. He adds that: MacGREGOR is experienced in these special projects, and has about 30 tanker conversion projects on order. Its major projects team is working on a number of projects where hatch covers are a main component of conversion - although big changes are also made in the cargo holds. For these projects, the tankers vary in size from 30,000 dwt to 300,000 dwt.
When looking for a solution, owners should be aiming to achieve the optimum balance in terms of cargo operations, hull changes and the hatches. For example, they need to know what impact a large opening which would benefit cargo handling will have upon the hull. This is not a beauty contest, and these are old tankers it is not the same as planning a newbuilding, Mr Vilhonen explains.
We believe that our strength in these conversion projects is that we have a dedicated, special unit to execute them, he says.
MacGREGOR specialist team has carried out about 400 conversion projects in relation to URS 30 regulation changes to date and this type of work still continues.
[ends]
For further information please contact:
Pertti Vilhonen, Manager, Major Project Unit, Service Division
Tel: 358 2 4121 360
E-mail: pertti.vilhonen@macgregor-group.com
or
MacGREGOR Group press office:
Steve Labdon, MacGREGOR Group Media Representative
Tel: +44 (0)20 8370 1740 Fax: +44 (0)20 8364 1331
E-mail: steve.labdon@j-l-a.com
