MacGregor books cement handling system orders

MARCH 5, 2015 — Eight offshore service vessels under construction at China’s Wuhu Xinlian Shipyard will have MacGregor dry bulk cement handling systems.

The fully automated pneumatic systems will be installed on two 78 m, 12,000 bhp, 150 t BP anchor handling, tug, supply and oil recovery vessels and six 79 m, 4,000 dwt platform supply vessels. The contract with MacGregor 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. “The fully automated self-discharging model is quick, safe, efficient, clean and labour saving.

“The advantages begin in the shipyard and extend throughout the vessel’s lifetime,” says Mr. Wong. “This is because the distributed control and profibus system are quick and easy to install, while maintenance costs are low. MacGregor’s global service network ensures excellent customer support wherever these new vessels are deployed.”

The first totally-enclosed self-loading and unloading cement carrier with MacGregor highly automated cargo handling gear was commissioned in 1947. Since then MacGregor has remained in the forefront of the development and supply of reliable, energy-efficient pneumatic conveying systems with high pumping rates for the marine and offshore industries.

MacGregor offers a wide range of marine self-unloading solutions for dry bulk materials. These include self-unloading systems for dry bulk carriers, transloading systems and bulk handling systems for offshore supply vessels.