Cargotec Receives Further Full Electric Drive Orders

Cargotec has recently secured new orders that will see full sets of MacGregor RoRo electric drive equipment onboard two pure car carriers; taking Cargotec's orderbook of fully electrically-driven PCCs to five

In May and June, Cargotec won two new orders for fully electrically-driven RoRo equipment onboard two pure car carriers (PCCs). "These new orders show that our customers appreciate the advantages that electrically-driven RoRo equipment offers," says Magnus Sjöberg, sales director for RoRo ships at Cargotec. "These advantages include reduced risk of cargo damage, as well as reduced environmental impact due to energy savings as continuous running is not required. They are also easy to monitor, and installation is easier and more cost efficient."

The equipment is destined for two 6,400-unit PCCs being built at Shin Kurushima Toyohashi Shipbuilding Co., Ltd in Japan for two different domestic Japanese owners. Each vessel will feature an electrically-driven MacGregor stern quarter ramp, side ramp and six movable ramps.

These new orders build upon Cargotec's growing electric-drive RoRo reference portfolio and follow its 2009-installation of electrically-driven internal equipment onboard four vessels for PD Gram & Co at Kyokuyo Shipyard in Japan.

"Over the last few years, Cargotec has delivered, and been contracted to deliver, over 100,000m2 of electrically-operated MacGregor car decks, internal hoistable ramps and covers," adds Mr Sjöberg "The PD Gram vessels were the first car carriers with complete electric-drive operation of the MacGregor RoRo cargo access internal equipment -are were a breakthrough, and the result of Cargotec's intensive R&D work, responding to customers wanting to move away from the use of hydraulic oil completely.

The increase in uptake of electric drives on board RoRo ships has been due to numerous factors including an environmental one, but one other technical reason for this development is the availability of improved electric drives, in the form of screwjack drives, to replace the hydraulic cylinders used for operating smaller items or in cleating and locking devices. Also, car manufacturers are putting pressure on owners to reduce the level of damage to cargo; Japanese companies, like Toyota, are leading this improvement.