SURVEY DUTCH HARBOR CRANE TRANSPORT

Project Summary

A used Hitachi container crane was relocated from Long Beach, CA, to Dutch Harbor, AK, in late 2007. Argonautics Marine Engineering, Inc. provided the marine warranty survey for the tow. The crane, weighing approximately 800 t, was loaded onto the 300 x 84 ft cargo barge WESTERN CARRIER with multi-wheel trailers and secured to the barge with pipe bracings. Loose items, containers, and loading equipment were secured with welded clips and/or chain lashings.

Upon receipt of the tow approval certificate, the tug and barge departed Long Beach early September, but heavy swells caused some of the tie rods to loosen, which required a quick stop over in Oakland for repairs. Early October, the crane arrived safely in Dutch Harbor where the crane was successfully offloaded and lowered onto its new rails.

Scope of Work

The project scope included:

Project Photographs

specialists in marine heavy-lift transportation engineering

naval architects

marine surveyors

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Est. 1992

■	Loading and offloading ballast calculations;
■	Review of design criteria and resulting barge motions/crane accelerations;
■	Review of the proposed crane reinforcement and seafastening plan;
■	Attend the loading operation in Long Beach;
■	Survey the crane with respect to tow readiness and internal securings;
■	Survey the seafastenings of the crane, the miscellaneous cargo items, and all loading equipment;
■	Inspect the barge WESTERN CARRIER and its towing connections;
■	Inspect the 3,200 hp coastal tug OCEAN MARINER and its towing gear;
■	Attend the offloading operation in Dutch Harbor.

Western Carrier departs Oakland with a container crane

Barge WESTERN CARRIER departing Oakland with destination Dutch Harbor

Crane half on the WESTERN CARRIER

Bracings and lashings

Nearly offloaded in Dutch Harbor

Almost over rails after turning 90 deg