LAUNCH AND TRIP & TOW SURVEY HOPPER BARGE

Project Summary

In November 2007, after delivery by the ship yard in Portland, OR, the 4,500 ST inland hopper barge GINA ELIZABETH was to be towed to its owners in Petaluma, CA. Argonautics Marine Engineering, Inc. was hired for the before and after launch surveys as well as the trip & tow survey. The 254 x 55 x 14.5 ft barge and its tow gear was surveyed at the Gunderson yard. The 4,300 hp oceangoing tug RICHARD BRUSCO was surveyed at the tug owner's facility. The 1966 build tug was just out of dry dock and in excellent condition with re-built engines and new tow wires. Because of the open hopper, a Survey Certificate with weather restrictions was issued. Upon receipt of a favorable weather window, the tow departed Portland on November 23 and the barge was successfully delivered to its owners 4 days later.

Similar surveys were provided for the tows of the second and third hopper barges of this series in March 2008 and January 2009 respectively.

Scope of Work

The project scope included:

Project Photographs

specialists in marine heavy-lift transportation engineering

naval architects

marine surveyors

If you can read this and do not see a MENU here, please allow for scripts to run

Est. 1992

■	Survey of the barge for readiness and owners acceptance before and after the launch;
■	Verify stability of barge with hopper fully flooded;
■	Survey of the selected oceangoing tug RICHARD BRUSCO and the tow gear on the barge;
■	Provide a comprehensive report to the underwriters;
■	Survey of the barge upon arrival in San Francisco.

Hopper barge Gina Elizabeth ready to depart

Hopper barge GINA ELIZABETH ready for departure

Tow bridle

Emergency tow wire

Tug RICHARD BRUSCO

Tow winch tug