Switzerland-based Cavotec, a marine systems innovator, has won a MoorMaster equipment and servicing order worth €10 million ($11.07 million) from Oman’s Port of Salalah for use at its two container 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 is to supply 16 MoorMaster MM400E15 units for container berths 3 and 4 at Salalah, said a statement from the company.

A three-year maintenance contract has also been signed, a renewal of an existing agreement, which will see Cavotec onsite service teams working closely with the port to provide support at all five MoorMaster berths.  

Juergen Strommer, chief operating officer (COO), Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA), Cavotec, said: “MoorMaster generates the safety and operational gains that are so critical to today's port applications — this is especially true of container handling operations such as those at the Port of Salalah.”

MoorMaster units were first trialled at Salalah in 2006, and the technology was then introduced at berths 1 and 5. The technology has successfully reduced excessive vessel motion, common to the port, caused in part by "long waves" that are especially pronounced during the Khareef monsoon season.

The new units — eight each at berths 3 and 4 — are scheduled for installation before the 2017 Khareef season. Earlier this year, and prior to the 2016 Khareef season, eight MM400E15 units were installed at berth 6. These units have met all operational requirements even during the most severe periods of long wave activity.   

The system dramatically improves safety and operational efficiency, and in many cases enables ports to make considerable infrastructure savings. To date, some 200 MoorMaster™ units have performed some 215,000 mooring operations at ferry, bulk handling, Ro/Ro, container and lock applications worldwide.

The vacuum units hold vessels at set distances from the berth, thereby avoiding the need for ships to be repositioned along the quay — resulting in operational improvements and reduced emissions from ships and tugs.

Joe Schofield, Port of Salalah’s chief operations officer, said: “We are delighted to continue our work with Cavotec — helping to improve safety and optimise operations with MoorMaster.” – TradeArabia News Service