Cargotec has received orders worth around EUR 11 million to supply loose container lashings for 17 container ships being built at Samsung Heavy Industries in Korea; delivery of lashing systems is scheduled to start at the end of 2010. The orders were booked in the first quarter 2010 order intake.
Cargotec is supplying loose container lashings for two series of mega-sized container ships. The first contract, in February, came from United Arab Shipping Company (S.A.G.) with Gulf Co-operation Council, for its new building order of nine 13,100 TEU container vessels. The second contract, in March, came from China Shipping Container Line (CSCL), and requires Cargotec to supply eight shipsets of loose container lashings for CSCL’s series of 14,100 TEU container ships.
“Both of these orders are extremely important for us and the CSCL order is the biggest single deal we have won so far in the China area for our lashing business,” says Tommi Keskilohko, sales manager for container ships at Cargotec. “The CSCL contract came about through good and close co-operation with our local marketing team in Shanghai, and further strengthens the relationship with our very important customer,” Mr Keskilohko continues.
Containers are exposed to numerous external forces such as wind and waves and the mass of the cargo is also accelerated by ship movements. Each year a large number of containers are washed overboard as a result of insufficient lashings; extreme weather; and/or incorrect loading or overloading.
Container lashing systems need to have margins for rough handling and therefore safe and robust design is important to reduce operational errors and to ensure durability. Cargotec offers MacGregor and AllSet lashing products and systems, which have designs based on years of experience. They offer the highest possible cargo safety standards and are quick and easy to operate to meet tight port schedules.