Gottwald gets order for another floating crane
Gottwald Port Technology GmbH of Germany has received an order from India based Archean Group 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 expected to start commercial operation before the end of the year, will be used for open sea transhipment of export coal from barges to ocean going vessels off the Indonesian coast in the province Bengkulu.
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 tons 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 1,500 tph.
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. 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 (Archean Logistics Limited) is also designed and built to comply with the Lloyd’s Register Code for Lifting Appliances in a Marine Environment.
Gottwald Floating Cranes designed for open sea operation can be operated in winds up to 24 m/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 four rope grab floating cranes with Lloyd’s Register Certification are ideally suited for the tough working conditions of coal handling on the open sea.’
