One of the new products is MacPiler, a gantry crane developed to handle lift-away hatch covers. The first vessels to use MacPiler are a series of four 4,400 dwt multi-purpose cargo ships ordered by Cyprus based Intership Navigation Ltd and being built in China for delivery between December 2007 and December 2008. MacGregor is also designing and supplying key components for the weatherdeck and tweendeck hatch covers/bulkhead panels.

MacPiler will travel the length of the weatherdeck of smaller ships, hoisting, carrying and stacking lift-away hatch covers. It is guided by rails and spans hatch widths of up to 12.65m. MacPiler has an SWL of 18 tons for raising or lowering a lift-away hatch over panel and can carry two at a time to either end of the hold opening, where it stacks them up to six panels high. It can clear this stack or an 8’6” container while carrying one panel.

The MacPiler runs on double flanged wheels which are hoisted clear of the track in its secured position, parked t the end of the track just forward of the bridge. The gantry crane is driven from the port side by two electric motors and there is stand on the starboard side for the operator, who uses joysticks with proportional potentiometer control to allow precise, smooth starts and stops.

The panel hoist is located on top of the MacPiler, powered by an electric motor. Each panel has four lifting points fitted. MacPiler can carry two hatch cover panels, one mechanically supported in an uppermost position, with the second panel on the hoist. With a travelling speed of 24m/minute, it can open a 10 panel hatch in some 20 minutes.

MJ Information No: 22321