MacGregor’s Equipment for New Chienese Polar Research Ship

MacGregor, part of Cargotec, has won an order to supply MacGregor offshore cranes and a Triplex handling system for a 14,300gt polar research vessel being built for the Polar Research Institute of China.

“Our ability to deliver tailor-made packages of equipment and a reputation for successful low temperature operations were key factors in winning this contract,” says William Storvik, shiptype group sales manager, MacGregor Offshore Deck Machinery.

The 122.5 meters multi-functional icebreaker will be able to handle ice up to 1.5 meters thick, achieving a continuous icebreaking speed of two to three knots. It will have an endurance of 20,000 nautical miles and with a full 90-person crew, it will be able to cruise for 60 days without re-supply, the company explained.

The vessel will feature two MacGregor offshore cranes: a 50-tonne SWL telescopic crane with a 15 meters outreach and a 24-tonne SWL knuckle jib crane with a 12 meters outreach.

It will also be fitted with a MacGregor Triplex six-tonne SWL telescopic/knuckle jib crane with a 17 meters outreach and a handling system specifically designed for research equipment. The handling system comprises: a 30-tonne SWL stern-mounted A-frame; a five-tonne SWL multi-functional launch-and-recovery overhead crane for conductivity, temperature and depth (CTD) oceanographic instrumentation; and a piston coring system that includes an eight-tonne SWL corer pipe handler, a 23 meter corer pipe cradle and a 25-tonne SWL side-mounted A-frame.

MacGregor deliveries are scheduled for completion by the end of 2017, the company informed.