Crowley orders 10 barges from Portland shipyard

Crowley orders 10 barges from Portland shipyard Crowley Maritime Corp. has signed a contract with the Gunderson Marine division of Greenbrier Cos. for 10 heavy lift deck cargo barges.
   The barges, at 400 feet by 105 feet, will be larger than a football field. They can be used in a variety of services including construction, salvage, oil and gas development, and container transportation. Crowley will deploy the barges to handle project work for the offshore energy industry in the Gulf of Mexico and elsewhere.
   The Portland, Ore.-based shipyard said its marine backlog now exceeds a record $200 million, with production extending well into 2012.
   Established in 1919 as a heavy steel fabricator, Gunderson has been a ship and marine barge builder since 1942. Primary marine work at Gunderson is building oceangoing barges, with more than 250 vessels built since World War II. It has completed eight projects during the past fiscal year, doubling the previous annual record. Recent launchings include deck cargo barges, roll-on/roll-off barges, hopper barges and double-hull oil barges.