MacGregor, part of Cargotec, has announced that it has secured a further order from Dalian Shipbuilding Industry in China for its variable frequency drive (VFD) electric cranes.

The 32 electric cranes have been specified for eight more 3,900 TEU container vessels being built at the yard for Singapore-based Pacific International Lines (PIL).

The deliveries are planned for 2014 and 2015. This new order builds on a previous contract that MacGregor announced in January for 16 electric cranes for the first four in the series, also under construction at Dalian.

“We know, as do many of our customers, about the advantages our electrically-driven cranes can offer,” said Jonas Hägglund, sales manager for MacGregor Cranes.

“Compared with electro-hydraulic cargo cranes, our environmentally-friendly VFD cranes can offer superior cargo handling efficiency with up to 50 per cent reduction in energy and fuel consumption and significantly lower service and spares costs; all resulting in a dramatically reduced carbon footprint.”

Hägglund added: “Substantial savings can also be made on cabling – about 1.4t for a 37,000 dwt handysize bulker – and through the use of smaller circuit breakers.”

Further electric crane contract ordered for Singapore-based PIL