The MacGREGOR Group part of the Cargotec Corporation has won an about US$9 million order to supply ten 30,000 dwt general cargo vessels with twin hatch cover arrangements. The covers are for a series of ships being built by Huang Hai Shipbuilding shipyard in China for Schoeller Holdings managed by Columbia Shipmanagement Ltd. and are scheduled for delivery from the first quarter of 2009 to the first quarter of 2011.

The multipurpose vessels are a continuation of a series of ships for the same owner, who placed an earlier contract with China Xiamen shipyard for which MacGREGOR has also supplied the hatch cover arrangements.

Ships in the latest series have twin hatch arrangement and tweendeck panels for cargo flexibility. MacGREGOR will design and be responsible for supplying key components for weatherdeck folding-type hatch covers for holds Nos 2, 3 and 4; tweendeck lift-away panels for these three holds; and weatherdeck lift-away hatches for holds Nos 1 and 5. The weatherdeck hatch covers for hold No 3 will feature MacGREGOR patented bellcrank system, allowing passage along longitudinal coamings.

Mikael Liljestr, MacGREGOR Sales Manager of general cargo ships said that: MacGREGOR was chosen for the order because of our technical knowledge when it comes to large general cargo vessels that are equipped with complicated hatch cover arrangements. We are also seeing an increasing trend for owners to opt not only for large general cargo vessels in terms of size, but also in the number of ships per series.

For further information please contact:
Mikael Liljestr, Sales Manager, General Cargo Ships MacGREGOR (FIN) Oy
Tel: +358 2 4121 273, Fax: +358 2 4121 380
E-mail: mikael.liljestrom@macgregor-group.com

or

MacGREGOR Group press office:
Mr 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