Gottwald Port Technology GmbH (Gottwald), has received an
order from India-based Archean Group (Archean Logistics
Limited) for a G HPK 8200 B floating crane, a variant of Model 8
of Generation 5, derived from mobile harbour crane technology.
This will be the third floating crane used for coal
handling off the Indonesian coast. With this order the total
number of this crane type sold since the launch in 2004 has
increased to 18.
The Archean Group, a new customer for Gottwald, is a
diversified industrial conglomerate with interests in salt, mines
and minerals, shipping, building materials, and industrial
chemicals. Through its affiliate PT Core Mineral Indonesia the
group operates coal mines in Indonesia, serving customers
worldwide.
The new G HPK 8200 B, which is scheduled to be delivered
in August 2010 and expected to start commercial operation
before the end of the year, will be used for open-sea
transshipment of export coal from barges to ocean-going vessels
off the Indonesian coast in the province Bengkulu (also known as
Southwest Sumatra).
The crane is designed as a four-rope grab crane for
professional, heavy-duty bulk handling with a grab capacity on
the ropes of 63 tonnes up to a radius of 34m. It can be used
alongside ships of all sizes and, depending on conditions, is
designed for handling rates of up to 1,500tph. According to
customer feedback in relation to one of the earlier cranes of
this type, average daily handling rates of 26,000 metric tonnes
were achieved over a period of one month.
Using proven mobile harbour crane technology from the slew
ring upwards, the crane will be mounted on a cylindrical pedestal
integrated in a tailor-made barge design. Both the pedestal and
the barge will be manufactured by the customer.
“Gottwald enjoys an excellent reputation and after carefully
weighing up the available options, it was apparent that Gottwald
offered the best choice, with a technologically superior crane at
a competitive price,” explained Dr. Piyush Raj, head of
productivity research at Archean Group.
 
BULK HANDLING ON THE OPEN SEA – CRANE CLASSIFICATION
BY LLOYD’S REGISTER
As with the other two G HPK 8200 B cranes supplied to PT
Puteri Borneo Company and PT Indo Straits in recent years for
open-sea operation, the one for the Archean Group is also
designed and built to comply with the Lloyd’s Register Code for
Lifting Appliances in a Marine Environment. On completion,
registration under the special feature class notation ‘LA’ in the
Lloyd’s Register, which confirms that the crane meets the highest
demands in terms of its overall mechanical and structural design
will be applied for. Gottwald floating cranes designed for opensea
operation can be operated in winds up to 24m/s and with
waves up to 2.5m high. Gottwald accounts for these severe
conditions by modifying the design, including a reinforced boom
design and an increased number of slewing gear drive units. A
suitable barge to match these tough operational requirements
will be designed and fabricated under Det Norske Veritas
supervision and the combined floating crane structure will have
a ‘Crane Barge’ notation after installation and testing is completed.
“This latest order reflects the growing opportunities for our
innovative floating crane concepts and demonstrates the high
level of confidence in our products and services,” said Shyam
Pathak, Gottwald’s representative in India. “The current project
was won on convincing technology and good reputation.
Gottwald’s 4-rope grab floating cranes with Lloyd’s Register
Certification are ideally suited for the tough working conditions
of coal handling on the open sea.”
 
ABOUT GOTTWALD PORTTECHNOLOGY GMBH
Gottwald Port Technology GmbH, based in Düsseldorf, Germany
and a subsidiary of Demag Cranes AG, is a manufacturer of
harbour cranes and terminal automation technology. With a
total of over 1,300 mobile harbour cranes sold, it is world
market leader in this sector. Gottwald Port Technology also
offers terminal automation system solutions that incorporate
both the company’s own software and hardware. Gottwald Port
Technology supplies customers in around 100 countries.