More shipboard Gantry Cranes from KCI Konecranes to Japan

Oshima Shipbuilding Co., Ltd has called its option to order four additional 70-ton Shipboard Gantry Cranes (Konecranes-Munckloaders) from KCI Konecranes. The new cranes will be delivered in 2009 and installed onboard two 55.000 DWT vessels ordered by Singaporean shipowner Masterbulk Pte. Ltd. The market value of these crane types is approximately USD 6 million per unit, depending on size and capacity. The order was received in the first quarter of 2006. Oshima Shipbuilding of Nagasaki, Japan is specialized in the fabrication of bulk carriers, including OHBC (Open Hatch Bulk Carriers) vessels. The two new OHBC's are sister vessels to Masterbulk's two 55.000 DWT vessels ordered in the summer of 2005, which upon delivery in 2007 is said to be the largest open hatch gantry crane ships in the world.

All vessels feature Konecranes-Munckloaders "Following the licence agreement in 1996, we signed the first contract with KCI Konecranes for eight shipboard gantry cranes for our new vessels that were built in Poland and delivered in 1999 and 2000", says Mr. Ragnar Nielsen, President of Masterbulk Pte. Ltd. KCI Konecranes upgraded the first eight Munckloaders in 2005 from a lifting capacity of 40 tons to 70 tons. Recently Masterbulk signed an agreement for a similar upgrading of eight additional cranes with a 40-ton lifting capacity, which will take place in 2006 and 2007. " Each of these vessels is equipped with two Konecranes-Munckloaders, tailor-made for handling forestry products like pulp, rolled paper and other unitized cargo like containers and steel products. "The 70-ton lifting capacity, compared to the conventional 40-ton capacity, enables the loading and discharging of the cargo with a minimum of handling time, ensuring safe stowage and minimum delays", says Jorma Antikainen, Director, Shipyard Cranes.

protection, which enables handling of sensitive paper products in all weather conditions. To date16 units of the Konecranes-Munckloaders with a 68-ton lifting capacity are already in operation on eight of Masterbulk's 46.000 DWT and 48.000 DWT vessels. The main mechanical components, electrical control systems and drive units of the four new cranes will be delivered from Europe while the crane structures will be manufactured and assembled in China, and barged in Japan.