November 13, 2007 -- MARITIME equipment manufacturer Cavotec has recorded a 5% increase in sales in the third quarter of this year, writes Craig Eason.
Sales reached €30m ($42.4m) and the company’s rolling 12-month order intake now stands at €129m, an improvement of 11.3%.
Cavotec’s success is partly due to the focus on its alternative marine power and port cabling systems.
It recently received an order from Dalian Shipyards in China for a total of 16 AMP systems, alsp called cold ironing, to be delivered in 2009 and 2010.
These systems will be installed on Pacific International Lines containerships that will be calling at the port of LosAngeles.
In South America, Cavotec has won projects to supply Bromma spreaders for a container port in Buenos Aires and other port systems for terminals in Brazil and Equador.
Meanwhile, the company is to supply power reels and cable for Siemens Goliath cranes that will be installed in the Guangzhon Shipyard in China, and in the Middle East it has also won several large cable protection orders for 1.5 km port quay installation.
To support its growth the company, which is also active in the airport and mining sectors, is investing heavily in expanding it premises and facilities globally.
Cavotec chief executive Ottonel Popesco said: “We will build a new 5,000 sq m logistics and assembly factory in the United Arab Emirates for airport and port expansion work there.
“We have secured 1,500 sq m to further develop and manufacture AMP and our moormaster systems, and there will be an additional new 3,000 sq m assembly plant in North Carolina for 2008.”
Cavotec is at present working with a sub-committee of the International Standards Organisation in developing a set of standards for AMP systems.
The technology has been introduced in the port of Los Angeles and other ports around the world as well as being installed on board a number of newbuildings.
However, with different systems available, there are fears that vessels mayinstall equipment that is incompatible port use.
The committee will look at standardising the supply voltage and connection type.
Source: Lloyd's List
