Cargotec has received an order to supply a total of twenty 150-tonne electric MacGregor winches for two pipe-laying heavy-lift offshore construction vessels (N448 & N449) which are currently being constructed at Cosco (Nantong) Shipyard Co Ltd in China.

The vessels are being built for Malaysian offshore installation and maintenance specialist TL Offshore Sdn. Bhd., a wholly-owned subsidiary of SapuraCrest Petroleum Bhd. The order is booked in the first quarter of 2012.

Each MacGregor mooring system includes ten electric mooring winches, wire rope leading sheaves and accessories. “The mooring winch system is designed to maintain its designed limit of movement in all anticipated sea and weather condition,” explains Ilpo Heikkilä, Vice President for winches at Cargotec.

The two vessels are scheduled for delivery by the beginning of 2014 and will be deployed for marine construction contracts in Australia and regions in the Middle East and North Africa, for major oil companies. Cargotec is scheduled to deliver the mooring systems in the first quarter of 2013.

“Cargotec’s reputation in the industry was important to the customer, along with our technical competency, and the fact that we have established service networks, both internationally and locally, enabling us to respond quickly,” Mr Heikkila says. “Our equipment also complies with the most stringent technical requirements.”

“To be awarded this project is testimony to our efforts to be the preferred deck machinery supplier for the oil & gas industry. It signifies the beginning of our working relationship with SapuraCrest in future major projects. The customer already has experience of our equipment, as the QP 2000 derrick lay barge acquired through a joint venture features 12 x 150-tonne MacGregor mooring winches.”