A bulker boom has seen Cargotec confirm new orders worth €20m ($24.8m) to deliver MacGregor bulk handling cranes and hatch covers for 17 handysize bulk carriers and hatch covers for nine kamsarmax bulk carriers, with all the vessels to be built at China's Zheijiang Ouhua Shipbuilding yard.
Cargotec sales and marketing director Per-Erik Nilsson said "The bulk vessel sector is extremely hot at the moment, especially in China, where the domestic shipping lines have got the financial backing of local banks. Greek shipowners are also strong and keeping this particularly segment very busy."
The Finland-based manufacturer of ship-to-shore, straddle and reachstacker equipment said that it had a number of orders in the pipeline.
Each 37,000dwt bulk carrier in the order announced yesterday will be equipped with four cranes with a safe-working load capacity of 30 tonnes when handling general cargo and SWL 24 tonnes when grab handling.
The cranes will be manufactures at Cargotec partner plants in China and delivery is planned by the end of 2012.
The hatch cover for these vessels comprises design and key components for MacGregor 2+2 folding type hatch covers, with a total of 20 panels on each ship.
Additionally, the company is contracted to deliver design and key components for MacGregor hatch covers sets for nine 82,000dwt bulk carriers to be built at the same shipyard.
Mr Nilsson added "It is quite surprising. We are seeing new orders popping up every day. It is definitely a bulker boom."