Cavotec wins largest MoorMaster™ automated mooring order to date

Cavotec has been awarded a EUR 10 million order for MoorMaster™ automated mooring units at a container port to be disclosed later in a joint press release with the customer. It is the largest single order to date for the technology, and further underlines the growing demand for Cavotec's automated mooring systems.

"The scale and location of this order represents a tremendous opportunity for the Group. It also further demonstrates that MoorMaster™ continues to gain traction in the market," says Ottonel Popesco, Cavotec CEO.

Cavotec will design, manufacture and install MoorMaster™ systems for a port mooring container ships up to 13,000 TEU.

Cavotec will also train locally based technicians who will provide technical support for the customer following delivery of the units.

At the customer's request, Cavotec will also commission an independent engineering study that will make recommendations on the technical details and performance targets of the application. The study will use computer modelling of the berth to support its guidance.

In addition to cutting the time it takes to moor and release vessels, the MoorMaster™ units will dampen vessel movement along the berth, meaning fewer interruptions to loading and unloading of ships. This will deliver substantial improvements in operational efficiency for the port.

This particular port experiences significant long wave effects and high winds. Depending on a number of factors, such as vessel size, wave height and wind speed, the automated mooring units will dampen vessel motion by as much as 75 per cent.

MoorMaster™ has also successfully dampened a high degree of vessel movement at the Port of Salalah, in Oman, where the system has been in operation at a number of container berths for several years.

The technology is increasingly gaining acceptance in the global maritime sector; the system is currently in operation at bulk and container handling, Ro/Ro, passenger ferry and lock applications in North America, Europe and Australasia. Elsewhere, Cavotec has been commissioned to work on projects to research and develop ATEX (explosion proof) approved MoorMaster™ systems, potentially for use at LNG berths.

MoorMaster™ is a vacuum-based automated mooring technology that eliminates the need for conventional mooring lines. Remote controlled vacuum pads recessed in, or mounted on the quayside or pontoons, moor and release vessels in seconds.

Cavotec develops advanced technologies that help ports around the world operate safely, efficiently and sustainably. In addition to automated mooring, these include shore power technologies, Panzerbelt cable protection systems, crane controllers, marine propulsion slip rings, power chains and connectors, radio remote controls and motorised cable reels.