MacGREGOR Cranes has secured a record orderbook in South Korea for its hose-handling and general service cranes

Some 100 hose-handling and general service cranes were delivered to South Korean shipyards by MacGREGOR in 2002, and another 100 of these types of cranes have been delivered so far this year or will be before the end of 2003.

Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering (DSME) chose MacGREGOR as the main supplier of cranes for its tanker programme, and since 1995 about 700 hose handling and provisions cranes have been delivered. DSME has been MacGREGOR main market for these types of cranes but during recent years the Crane division market penetration has increased to almost all major shipyards in Korea.

A significant development has been the addition of Hyundai Heavy Industries to MacGREGOR Cranes list of shipyard references in South Korea. Historically MacGREGOR has supplied hose-handling and general service cranes for newbuildings at both Daewoo and Samsung shipyards. The addition of HHI is considered a major breakthrough and was achieved through MacGREGOR close relationship with London-based owner Novoship, which has ordered four Aframax tankers from the Korean major. Two ships will be built at the Ulsan yard and the second pair at Mokpo. Each vessel will be equipped with two hose-handling cranes and two stores cranes.

A further new reference is the supply of hose and provisions handling cranes to newbuildings at the System Technology Excellence shipyard (STX) formerly known as Daedong.

Shina Shipbuilding Co, a leading medium-sized shipyard, has ordered hose-handling cranes for a series of six 49,700 dwt products tankers ordered by Ocean Tankers (Pte) Ltd of Singapore.

During the year MacGREGOR Cranes has also developed its co-operation with Samsung, and is supplying hose cranes for the builder LNG carriers.

Success in China

The other Asian success story for cranes for handling hoses and stores is in China, where MacGREGOR Cranes has just won an order for LNG carrier hose-handling cranes from Hudong-Zhonghua in Shanghai. This is the first LNG carrier ordered in China.

MacGREGOR Crane division added hose-handling and service cranes to its portfolio of products being manufactured by L¼zhou Machine Works a couple of years ago, and its sales success in this sector reflects the growing importance of tanker tonnage in the Chinese market. AP Moller is one of many European owners specifying MacGREGOR hose and service cranes for new tonnage under construction in China.

MacGREGOR service cranes are available in a standard range covering capacities from 3 tonnes to 10 tonnes, with outreaches of up to 24m. For hose-handling duties the standard supply covers capacities from 3 to 25 tonnes with outreaches also up to 24m. By standardising production, costs are reduced significantly, but additional capacities not listed are nevertheless possible and can be quoted upon request.

Self-contained module

The cranes are supplied as a self-contained module with the power pack integrated into the crane housing and foundation. Modularisation provides benefits in terms of less cost and time for installation on board, and no risk of contamination from external pipe work. It also provides the customer with the satisfaction of knowing that the unit has been factory-tested prior to delivery.

For hose-handling duties the range incorporates an intrinsically safe electric pump motor (certified to EExd IIbT4), or alternatively the cranes can be served from a central remote power pack, thus avoiding the use of electricity in the vicinity of the crane.

As standard, service cranes are provided with controls on an open platform above the slewing ring. Slewing and luffing modes can be operated individually at maximum speed, or alternatively the two motions may be controlled at the same time with full load, but at reduced speed. If required the cranes can be supplied with an operator cab or with remote portable controls with connection via an electric cable and plug/socket connection to the crane.

The cranes are supplied with a maker certificate complying to ILO format rules, enabling customers to obtain an ILO certificate after the crane has been load-tested on board ship. As an option, service cranes can be supplied with full classification from any classification society. Hose-handling cranes also comply with OCIMF requirements.

New cold-climate versions

Due for delivery in 2003 is a new range of special cold climate hose/stores cranes that can operate in temperatures down to -30^oC and even -45^oC. "Standard cranes cannot operate at very low temperatures," says Anders Berencsy, product sales manager. "Designing a crane to work reliably at such temperatures requires some skill and, in particular, strict attention to detail. Firstly, it is important to select the right quality of materials that still operate in a defined manner at such low temperatures. We then have to add extra electric heater fans and use lubricants that can still function."

According to class rules, special steel construction requirements have to be used for structures operating below -20^oC. These requirements are even more demanding as temperatures become more extreme. Already, MacGREGOR crane design for operations in temperatures down to -30^oC has been approved by US classification society ABS. And a crane design is complete for operations in temperatures down to -45^oC.