Deck Handling Equipment News

All American Marine (AAM) has delivered a 78’ x 26.7’ semi-displacement aluminum catamaran to Cal Poly Humboldt. The vessel will serve as a scientific exploration platform and support faculty research along the Northern California and Oregon coasts.Designed by Nic de Waal of Teknicraft Design, the RV North Wind builds on the proven success of similar research vessels, including the R/V Shackleford and the University of Hawaii’s R/V Imua.Constructed to US Coast Guard Subchapter T standards…

Norwegian crane specialist Motus Technology has secured a contract to provide its cranes and handling equipment for National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)’s Class B research vessels.Working in collaboration with Kongsberg Maritime, Motus’ new contract follows the equipment supply deal for NOAA’s Class A vessels in 2021.Motus will provide its CTD (Telescopic Deploy and Retrieval Arm), along with the MMC10 and MMC240 cranes.These systems are designed to operate effectively in tough marine environments…

Rovco, a UK-based subsea robotics and survey firm, has signed a three-year charter with Glomar Offshoreof the multipurpose support vessel, Glomar Supporter.The company said the charter was part of its growth strategy within its site characterizing business unit, and market a significant expansion of the company’s offshore hydrographic, geophysical, and shallow geotechnical survey capabilities."Responding to high client demand amid a rapidly growing offshore wind market, Rovco…

A MacGregor project team has been involved in the polar icebreaker Xue Long (Snow Dragon) 2 project for China’s 36th Antarctic expedition from the very early stage back in 2011MacGregor is working collaboratively with the he Polar Research Institute of China (PRIC) project team and the Marine Design and Research Institute of China (MARIC) in Shanghai to develop different technical solutions required to enable deck handling equipment to operate effectively at temperatures of minus 45 degrees centigrade.MacGregor’s deck handling solution and scope of supply for Xue Long 2 comprises three offshore cranes, the research equipment deck handling systems, oceanographic winches, deck machinery and hatch covers.

Peter Svartsjö at ABB discusses the benefits of water-cooled motors for marine applications that require megawatt levels of power, including space saving, increased energy efficiency and reduced maintenance needs.Electric motors run several main functions on marine vessels – from propulsion and thrusters to deck handling equipment such as winches, anchors and pumps. This makes them mission-critical for ship owners and operators, as their reliability and performance can have a…

MacGregor, part of Cargotec, has signed an agreement to acquire Rapp Marine Group (RMG) in order to strengthen its offering for the fishery and research vessel segment. The enterprise value of the acquisition was approximately €16 million ($19 million). With RMG, MacGregor is able to expand upon its existing portfolio which already includes various deck handling equipment, such as cranes and booms, to now offer complete solutions with advanced winches and related control systems. "MacGregor has a strategic interest in widening services for customers within fishery and research segment," said Michel van Roozendaal, President, MacGregor. "Products needed for these demanding vessel types have to be safe, robust and reliable with a good after sales network.

J.F. Lehman & Company (JFLCO) informs it has signed a definitive agreement with Oldenburg Group Incorporated to acquire its Heavy Equipment Group, including both its defense and mining business units. The new company will be named Lake Shore Systems, Inc., in a return to its roots dating back to 1858. The acquisition will represent JFLCO’s 25th sponsored platform investment since the firm’s inception. Lake Shore designs, engineers, manufactures and supports complex, heavy equipment systems to meet mission critical requirements in harsh operating environments, including large deck handling equipment, access and lifting systems for U.S. government vessels and customized underground mining equipment for mine owners and operators around the world.

Vard Holdings Limited (VARD) has announced that through its subsidiary Seaonics, it has acquired ICD Software, a leading provider of automation and control system software for the offshore and marine sectors. Established in 2011 and 51% controlled by VARD, Seaonics delivers winches, cranes and handling equipment to the offshore and maritime sector. The company has developed cranes for critical offshore lifting operations up to 250t, and is one of the market leaders for Launch and Recovery Systems (LARS). Prior to the transaction, Seaonics employed 50 employees in Norway and a subsidiary in Poland. ICD Software is specialized in the development of automation software and control systems, and employs 63, half of which in Norway and the remainder in two subsidiaries in Poland and Estonia.

MacGregor, part of Cargotec, has secured a contract with the Brazilian shipowner and shipbuilder Grupo CBO. The contract is to supply Triplex deck handling equipment and cranes for four customised Havyard 843 anchor handling tug supply vessels (AHTS). The order was booked into first quarter 2015 order intake. The 81.5m Havyard 843 is a modern anchor-handling vessel with a maximum speed of 16 knots. It has a 400 tonne anchor handling winch and accommodation for up to 30. This Havyard design will be adapted to meet the particular requirements of Brazilian energy company, Petrobras. Two vessels will be built at Grupo CBO's Estaleiro Aliança yard and two at the Estaleiro Oceana yard.

MacGregor, part of Cargotec, has received a major order from Kleven in Norway for six comprehensive deck handling equipment packages. They will be installed on six new-generation Anchor Handling Tug Supply (AHTS) vessels for Maersk Supply Service. MacGregor's delivery of Triplex and Hatlapa products is planned to start in the last quarter of 2015 and run until the second quarter of 2017. The contract also includes options to equip an additional four vessels. The parties have agreed not to disclose the order value. "We are proud that Kleven and Maersk Supply Service, a leading shipowner in the offshore industry, have trusted MacGregor to deliver key systems for these new vessels," says Pasi Lehtonen, Senior Vice President for MacGregor Offshore Segment.

Cargotec announces today that its MacGregor business has completed the acquisition of privately owned Hatlapa, a leading provider of merchant ship and offshore deck equipment. Cargotec announced the intention to acquire Hatlapa in July 2013 in a transaction valued at approximately €160 million. The acquisition further strengthens MacGregor's line of premium winch products as well as expands the offering to include steering gear, compressors and deck handling equipment. Hatlapa will be integrated into MacGregor's existing operating structure and its results will be consolidated into MacGregor's financial figures as of November 1, 2013. Hatlapa's sales contribution to MacGregor from closing for the remainder of the year is expected to be approximately €20 million.

Triplex secures a new Triplex MDH 42 order from BOA offshore, including supply of Shark Jaws, Vertical Guide Pins & Spooling Block. Triplex say that BOA is the third ship-owner in Norway to opt for the Triplex MDH multi-purpose deck handling equipment on its AHTS vessels. The contract is for 1+1 vessel of Wartsila VS 491 design, and the equipment is scheduled for delivery in January 2014. "We are delighted that BOA has chosen Triplex Deck Equipment for its new AHTS vessels”, says Offshore Sales Manager at Triplex AS, Even Kippernes.

Cargotec appoints Tom Svennevig Vice President for MacGregor advanced load-handling business. Cargotec has appointed Tom Svennevig as Vice President responsible for the company's advanced load-handling business line as of 24 October 2011. Mr Svennevig is experienced in the offshore business, and he joins Cargotec from Aker Pusnes in Norway where he was Vice President, Deck Machinery. Mr Svennevig is based in Kristiansand, Norway, where he also assumes the role of Managing Director of Cargotec Norway AS.

Consolidation in the maritime industry is not something new. In the past five years, oil majors such as Exxon and Mobil, and BP, Amoco and Arco have all consolidated. Shipyards haven't been immune to mergers, either; as Halter was purchased by Friede Goldman; and Litton Ingalls consolidated with Avondale. But, when equipment manufacturers begin to consolidate, the effects aren't quite as obvious. In the past five years, Caterpillar acquired MaK and, more recently, Sabre. And Rolls-Royce has joined the buying frenzy with such zeal and aggression, it's almost easier to list companies not owned by the propulsion giant. Part of the ambiguity of the merger between equipment manufacturers is, typically, the existing product line is still maintained; just owned and distributed by the new company.