Feature 4 | Cranes and Cargo Handling
MacGregor lifts crane technology to
new heights
New developments in the cargo lifting community are seldom as radical as
MacGregor’s all electric crane development. The freethinking craneiologists at
Cargotec have launched the company’s new MacGregor GLBE electric cranes.
P
olish shipowner, Polsteam’s, award they have a 20% better efficiency and backpower system will mean savings of
of the contract for the supply of 24 they do not lose heat energy.” power generation of around 30%. We
cranes to its eight newbuildings, In fact the Cargotec crane was have not yet confirmed those savings,
currently under construction in China’s designed with a “backpower” feature though, we will validate the energy
Taizhou Sanfu Ship Engineering yard, that turns the electric motor in the jib savings next year after more tests,” said
is a shift from the standard order. The into a power generator through the Mr Nilsson.
16,900dwt bulk carriers will be fitted weight of the cargo. In looking to provide a radical new
with 30tonne SWL MacGregor GLBE all “We have calculated that the solution for cargo handling cargotec
electric cranes.
The cranes, which are tested both
mechanically and electrically before
delivery as complete units, will be
installed on the the newbuildings
between the end of 2010 and 2012.
In confirming this new order late last
year Polsteam brought to a successful
conclusion seven years of debate and
development by Cargotec. A pre-study
into an all-electric solution was first
conducted back in 2003 and that lead to
a design that was both environmentally
cleaner and operationally more efficient
and this lead to the prototype being built
and tested in 2006.
The prototype crane was then fitted
to a China Navigation vessel, the
Indotransflores, in 2007 which traded
on a route that took the vessel from
Singapore to India, the USA and Canada.
The ship presented Cargotec with an
opportunity to test the cranes in a wide
range of climates and environments,
from very humid in Singapore and
Indonesia to very cold in Canada.
Fitted with 50W heaters to maintain
the temperature within the machinery
spaces at a level that was 1-2°C above
the ambient temperature, thereby
preventing the machinery from
condensation damage, the crane’s
performance exceeded the expectations
of its designers.
Per-Erik Nilsson, director marketing
and sales for MacGregor cranes, said:
“Electric cranes have fewer moving
parts, they have no pumps and no oil,
a close up of Macgregor’s electric crane.
62
The Naval Architect February 2010
NA Feb10 - p62+p63.indd 62 02/02/2010 15:18:05
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