Custom cranes shipped to Russia

Coast Crane has supplied a fleet of 10 customized cranes to Veco Equipment to work on the island of Sakhalin off the east coast of mainland Russia. The order, comprising a Manitowoc Model 999 crawler and nine Grove rough terrains, 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 6,000 miles in the process. Veco Equipment is using the cranes to complete field support work for ExxonMobil, which 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. Due to the severe weather cycles on Sakhalin that make working conditions more difficult, Coast Crane fitted the 999 and the RT650E, RT760E, and RT890Es with a special arctic package. Developed in conjunction with Veco Equipment, the arctic package includes an 8 hp generator to power 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 use air that has already been heated to keep cylinders and other vital components warm. These kits offer an advantage over other cranes sold into the region by reducing downtime and prolonging machine life.