Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. (MHI) signed an agreement with Imabari Shipbuilding Co., Ltd. in Imabari, Ehime Prefecture, Japan, under which MHI licenses production and marketing of deck machinery. Through licensing, MHI aims to expand market share of deck machinery based on the company's technology and, at the same time, respond to requests from Imabari, which looks to enhance business through deck machinery production. The production of licensed machinery is scheduled to be started in April 2013.
Imabari Shipbuilding is the Japan's largest shipbuilder, with the highest new ship building tonnage and ship sales, and builds various types of ship. The licensed deck machineries consist of various configuration types and are capable for use in all ships. Hydraulic pumps and motors, which drive machines, will be supplied by MHI. Imabari plans to build the deck machinery at the shop in Dalian Imaoka Shipbuilding Co., Ltd., a ship block manufacture plant that Imabari has established in Dalian, China.
Deck machinery consists of anchor windlasses, which are used for anchoring and anchor hoisting, and mooring winches, which are used to moor a vessel to a pier or berthing facilities. MHI manufactured its first deck machinery in 1962. The company's deck machinery has built up a solid delivery track record and has won high reputation from customers for their high reliability, and durability. MHI has licensed deck crane technologies to Jiangsu Masada Heavy Industries Co., Ltd. in Nantong, Jiangsu Province, in 2008, and granted production and marketing of steering gears and deck machinery in the spring of this year. The agreement with Imabari was concluded succeedingly. MHI will further strengthen its aggressive marketing activities for the company's marine machinery, including deck machinery.