Unloading Systems News

MacGregor, part of Cargotec, has launched a new and augmented gravity self-unloading system that it says will allow bulk carriers to deliver a wider variety of cargo, in greater volume.The new system, the MacGregor GravityVibe, deploys a patent-pending vibrating unloader to reduce internal friction and ease the discharge of coarse materials such as wood chips from the cargo hold.While the automated unloading sequence remains a gravity-based operation, the MacGregor system includes…

The newly built Mark W. Barker, the United States' first new Great Lakes bulk carrier in nearly 40 years, has embarked on its maiden voyage from Fincantieri Bay Shipbuilding in Sturgeon Bay, Wis.“This is a monumental day for our company and the U.S. flag fleet as our much-anticipated freighter departs on her first voyage in what will be a long life of service on the Great Lakes,” said Mark W. Barker, President of The Interlake Steamship Company and namesake of the vessel—the company’s first new build since 1981.

A ceremony held at Fincantieri Bay Shipbuilding on Thursday marked the launch of the first U.S.-flagged Great Lakes bulk carrier to be built in nearly four decades. The 639-foot Mark W. Barker, currently under construction for Ohio-based The Interlake Steamship Company, was floated in the large drydock at the Sturgeon Bay, Wis. shipyard.“Today is truly gratifying for our company to commemorate the first time the completed hull of our new ship has touched water,” said Mark W. Barker…

With an eye on an aging trailing suction hopper dredge fleet, C-Job is set to debut an innovative new THSD design series with a focus on modularity and sustainability. Basjan Faber, CEO, C-Job Naval Architects, discusses the dredging market and the new design with Maritime Reporter & Engineering News.Without equivocation, the Dutch know dredging. The country name itself—“the Netherlands”—literally means "the lowlands" and refers to the geographic features of the land being both flat and down river from higher areas…

A keel laying ceremony on Tuesday marked the official start of assembly on the first new U.S.-flagged Great Lakes bulk carrier to be built in more than 35 years.During the ceremony held by The Interlake Steamship Company and Fincantieri Bay Shipbuilding, (FBS) the keel was laid within the shipyard’s large graving dock in Sturgeon Bay, Wis. following more than nine months of engineering and prefabrication work of its modular sections by the FBS team.Though the build project is already well underway…

The U.S. Great Lakes freighter fleet are well-renowned for being a 'mature' group of ships, a point magnified yesterday when Fincantieri Bay Shipbuilding started construction on the first U.S.-flagged Great Lakes bulk carrier built in more than 35 years. The shipyard and the owner, The Interlake Steamship Company, hosted a ceremonial first-cut-of-steel event Wednesday, August 14, signalling the start of construction.The new River-Class, self-unloading bulk carrier is believed to be the first ship for U.S. Great Lakes service built on the Great Lakes since 1983.

U.S. ship owner The Interlake Steamship Company said it has ordered a new U.S.-flagged Great Lakes bulk carrier, the first to be built in more than 35 years. Measuring 639 feet in length (78 feet W, 45 feet H, 28,000 DWT), the vessel will be constructed by Fincantieri Bay Shipbuilding, in Sturgeon Bay, Wis., for scheduled completion in mid-2022.The new River-Class, self-unloading bulk carrier is reportedly the first ship for U.S. Great Lakes service built on the Great Lakes since 1983.The Interlake Steamship Company…

U.S.-flag Great Lakes vessel operators will spend $65 million maintaining and modernizing their vessels at Great Lakes shipyards this winter. When complete, the fleet will be ready to meet the needs of commerce come the spring break-out in March. “Winter is the one opportunity our members have to renew and upgrade their vessels,” said James H.I. Weakley, President of Lake Carriers’ Association, the trade association representing the major U.S.-flag carriers. The major focus this winter will be on normal maintenance such as overhauls of engines…

As temperatures drop, the pace is heating up at Great Lakes shipyards where winter is typically the busiest season, and this year is no exception. U.S.-flag Great Lakes vessel operators will spend more than $80 million to maintain and modernize their vessels for the 2017 shipping season, according to the Lake Carriers’ Association (LCA). “Once again Lake Carriers’ Association members are demonstrating their commitment to Great Lakes shipping,” said James H.I. Weakley, President of the trade association representing the major U.S.-flag carriers.

MacGregor, part of Cargotec, has received an order for gravity self-unloading systems for two 29,800 dwt bulk carriers (lakers) from the Yangzijiang shipyard, in China. The vessels will be delivered late 2017 / early 2018 to Canadian Great Lakes operator, Algoma. The order was booked into the first quarter 2016 order intake. "MacGregor enjoys a good, long-term relationship with the Yangzijiang shipyard," said Mikael Hägglund, Sales Manager, Selfunloaders. The contract will see MacGregor deliver a highly-automated, efficient self-unloading system to each of the new vessels. The system is designed for a maximum unloading rate of 5,450t/h for stone or iron ore and 4,360t/h for coal.

MacGregor, part of Cargotec, has received an order from Wuhu Xinlian Shipyard in China for eight MacGregor dry bulk cement handling systems. The fully automated pneumatic systems will be installed on two 78m 12,000 bhp 150T BP anchor handling, tug, supply and oil recovery vessels and six 79m 4,000 dwt platform supply vessels. The contract includes system design and the delivery of key components, which will take place between August 2015 and January 2016. "The customer chose MacGregor's pneumatic dry bulk handling system because it offers high functionality and excellent reliability, important benefits supported by testimonials from other satisfied customers," says Francis Wong, head of Sales and Marketing at MacGregor Offshore Deck Machinery.

A new self-loading/unloading cement carrier for Japanese Taiheiyo Engineering Co will feature MacGregor cement handling systems designed to carry three grades of cement at a rated capacity of 1,000t/h. MacGregor, part of Cargotec, has secured a new order for autonomous loading and unloading systems for an 8,700 dwt cement carrier to be built for Japanese shipowner Taiheiyo Kisen Kaisha Ltd. "The totally enclosed cement handling arrangements will ensure flexible, efficient and clean cargo operations," said Anders Berencsy, Sales Manager, Selfunloaders at MacGregor. The 109m vessel will have four cargo holds, each divided into two compartments. The cement handling system is designed to carry up to three grades of cement in each shipment.

The Hatlapa shareholders have entered into an agreement with Cargotec´s MacGregor to transfer all company shares and to integrate the merchant ship and offshore deck equipment business into the MacGregor portfolio. MacGregor offers integrated cargo flow solutions for maritime transportation and offshore industries. MacGregor’s offering includes hatch covers, lashing systems, cranes, RoRo cargo and passenger access equipment and self-unloading systems. For the offshore industry…

Investment Averages $1.4 Million Per Vessel Maintaining and Modernizing U.S.-Flag Lakers Will Keep Great Lakes Shipyards Busy This Winter. More than 1,200 boilermakers, welders, electricians and other skilled craftsmen will be hard at work this winter maintaining and modernizing U.S.-flag Great Lakes freighters when they lay up between late December and mid-January. The major U.S.-flag operators will invest more than $75 million in their 56 vessels so the fleet will be ready to replenish stockpiles of iron ore, coal, cement, salt and limestone when shipping resumes next March.

At the end of January Cargotec received an order for MacGregor cement self-loading/unloading systems to be installed on two 7,000 dwt barges being built by Shin Yang Shipyard in Miri, Malaysia. Delivery to Shin Yang Shipping is scheduled for September 2011 and the barges will trade on Malaysian routes between Kuching and Sibu, and between Kuching and Miri. The cargo owner is CMS Cement Sdn Bhd, a cement manufacturer in Sarawak. The pneumatic systems will have rated capacities of 300 t/h for loading and 250 t/h for unloading.

What started out as mere sketches on the drafting tables at CSL almost two years ago now sits in the building berth at Port Weller Dry Docks well on its way to becoming the biggest Canadian Lakes vessel ever built. Apart from the construction of the various sections of the new hull (forebody), which incorporated some of the latest in shipbuilding techniques, and the development of state-of-the-art unloading systems, the task of joining it to the engine room compartment and accommodation block (after end) of former J.W. McGiffin was nothing short of an engineering feat. The delicate procedure took place in mid and late March. The transition section -- the 24-ft. unit which accounts for the extra two ft. in deck height and three ft.