Gunderson launches Crowley barge

Gunderson launches Crowley barge    Crowley’s said the latest in a series of new heavy-lift deck barges being built by Gunderson Marine Shipyard in Portland, Ore., was christened and launched May 16.
   The 400-foot-long by 105-foot-wide heavy-lift barge will be used to transport the world’s largest land-based drilling rig for Parker Drilling and BP.
   The barge was the 42nd built for Crowley barge built at the Gunderson yard, and is one of a series that provide capacity and deck strength needed to accommodate larger drilling and production units used in deepwater offshore energy exploration and development. They are capable of handling loads up to 4,200 pounds per square foot.
   Crowley has plans to build up to 13 of these barges by 2013. The largest, already in operation in the U.S. Gulf, measures 400 feet by 130 feet. Construction of the next barge in the series, is underway and is expected to be delivered by Gunderson this summer.