For Immediate Release

January 28, 2005

MCG ships custom cranes to Russia

Sakhalin: A Model 999 crawler and nine Grove mobiles are being supplied by Coast Crane to Veco Equipment on the island of Sakhalin.

Manitowoc Crane Group dealer Coast Crane is supplying a large fleet of cranes to Sakhalin, an island that lies off the eastern coastline of mainland Russia. Ten cranes, including a Model 999 crawler and a battery of Grove rough-terrain models, are being shipped from Coast’s Seattle location to Sakhalin. The cranes are traveling from Seattle to Seoul, Korea, and will finally reach Sakhalin by rail, covering more than some 9,656 km (6,000 miles) in the process. 

The cranes are being delivered to Alaska-based Veco Equipment to handle field support work for ExxonMobil who is working a reserve that could contain more than eight billion barrels of oil. The field is one of the largest oil finds in the last 20 years and could provide double the output of Alaska’s North Slope.

With Sakhalin subject to severe weather cycles, Coast Crane ensured the Manitowoc 999 and Grove RTs – RT650Es, RT760Es, and RT890Es – have been fitted with a special arctic package. The company developed the package for its Alaskan customers and knew the weather conditions on Sakhalin are similar to those found on Alaska’s North Shore.

Developed in conjunction with Veco Equipment, the arctic package comprises a number of components. It includes a 6 kW (8 hp) generator that provides power to engine heaters and extra lights on the cranes, along with lubricants able to withstand temperatures that can drop to -23°C (-10° F). In addition, Coast rerouted intakes to utilize air that has already been heated to keep cylinders and other vital components warm. These kits provide a huge advantage over other cranes sold into the region by reducing downtime, thereby prolonging machine longevity.

One of the first cranes supplied by Coast to arrive on site has been a Manitowoc Model 999, a product that boasts a lifting capacity of 250 t (275 USt). It has been rigged with 84 m (275 ft) of main boom and a 36.5 m (120 ft) fixed jib and was recently being used in a pile-driving application. The machine set a flare tip next, a task that required its full complement of boom and the addition of a luffing jib that boosted boom length to 128 m (420 ft).

The Grove rough terrains are being used in a support role, lifting piping, tanking, helping construct crew accommodations, unloading vessels, and more.

About The Manitowoc Company
The Manitowoc Company, Inc. is one of the world's largest providers of lifting equipment for the global construction industry, including lattice-boom cranes,tower cranes, mobile telescopic cranes, and boom trucks. As a leading manufacturer of ice-cube machines, ice/beverage dispensers, and commercial refrigeration equipment, the company offers the broadest line of cold-focused equipment for the foodservice industry. In addition, the company is a leading provider of shipbuilding, ship repair, and conversion services for government, military, and commercial customers throughout the U.S. maritime industry.

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