The portal based solution, LPS 600, is this year’s award-winning model. In 2009 the LHM 280 was voted to be the crane of the year, thanks to its outstanding efficiency, flexibility and reliability. Last year, in 2010, Liebherr could convince the judges with their LHM 500, one of the best-selling mobile harbour cranes for dedicated bulk handling ever. In November 2011 Liebherr nominated their LPS 600 and could again impress the judging panel, represented by sixteen experienced experts in the Maritime Bulk Industry. At the festive ceremony at the Hilton Hotel in the historic heart of Antwerp, the ‘Crane of the Year’ award was handed over to Liebherr’s Senior Manager Design, Mr Walter Mietschnig, being one of the major driving forces behind Liebherr’s highly successful Mobile Harbour Crane concept. Winning this prestigious award for the third year in a row marks a huge success and is testament to Liebherr’s consistent commitment to highest quality standards in combination with innovative strength.

Following on from an earlier commission to prepare a Habitats Regulations Appraisal (HRA) for the draft plan for offshore wind energy in Scottish territorial waters, ABPmer have now been commissioned to prepare a similar HRA to support the development of their wave and tidal energy plan.

Separately, ABPmer in association with the European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC) have been contracted to prepare expanded and updated guidance on consenting, EIA and HRA for offshore wind, wave and tidal development in Scottish waters.

In a further commission, ABPmer was appointed in association with Risk & Policy Analysts to prepare a socio-economic baseline review and data gap analysis for offshore renewables in Scottish waters.

Commenting on the awards, Stephen Hull, ABPmer’s Project Director said ‘We are delighted to be supporting Marine Scotland on these studies. Our success in winning this work demonstrates our strong understanding of the strategic issues associated with large scale deployment of offshore energy devices and maintains our association with the sector’.

ABPmer is a leading provider of specialist advice and technical expertise to the marine renewable energy sector.  As well as undertaking work for Government, the company has a long history of supporting offshore wind developers achieve their ambitions and has led several strategic reviews including the appropriate assessment associated with The Crown Estate’s recent Pentland Firth marine renewables leasing round.

Current customers in Richmond include Subaru, Honda, MOL, Act Maritime, K Line and NYK.  The company plans to expand throughout the U.S. West Coast as opportunities present themselves. APS has appointed John Gibson as its manager for the Richmond operations.

APS President John Hering, who has more than 23 years experience working for stevedoring companies such as Ports America, commented on the APS’ services.

“We see great opportunity with the synergy of all aspects of the logistics chain, including stevedoring, terminal handling and auto processing,” Hering said.

Executive Director Port of Richmond Jim Matzorkis added his comments of the new operator.

“The Port of Richmond is pleased that APS Stevedoring has chosen the Port of Richmond as its initial port for stevedoring operations,” Matzorkis said. “This is a very exciting time for the Port of Richmond with the arrival of Subaru and APS stevedoring unloading the Green Point, the first vessel carrying Subaru cars to call the port.”

APS has extended capabilities and services though its relationship with AWC, North America’s largest auto processing company with operations at 22 port, plant and rail locations in the U.S. and Canada.

Mr Svennevig is experienced in the offshore business, and he joins Cargotec from Aker Pusnes in Norway where he was Vice President, Deck Machinery. Mr Svennevig is based in Kristiansand, Norway, where he also assumes the role of Managing Director of Cargotec Norway AS. “We have a professional and experienced team in our competence centre for advanced load-handling solutions in Kristiansand offering their services for our customers globally,” says Olli Isotalo, Executive Vice President, Marine. “Appointing Tom Svennevig further strengthens our organisation in Norway.” Earlier this year, Ilpo Heikkilä was appointed Vice President for the winch business line. He is based in Singapore.

Cargotec offers MacGregor load-handling solutions to the offshore industry. The range includes marine, offshore and subsea cranes with active heave-compensation, fibre rope handling systems for ultra deepwater load handling, launch and recovery systems for ROVs/Ts, module handling systems, sophisticated rescue and deck-handling equipment, and advanced winches for  anchor handling and towing and  mooring operations.