Heavy transport specialist Mammoet has completed the transport of two 430-ton (390-tonne) tugboats from the Island Tug and Barge (ITB) Annacis Island facility to Vancouver harbour.
Having no clear access to water at the ITB facility, Mammoet had to work closely with subcontractors and the client Tidewater to devise a logistics plan to move the tugboats.
This involved the avoidance of a below grade railroad siding, railway tracks ,as well as overhead power lines. Additional constraints included difficult tidal conditions and a steep riverbank.
The Island Raider and Island Regent each measuring 23.9 m long and 12.5 m wide were placed on self-propelled modular transporters (SPMTs) and ramps were placed over the rail lines for clearance.
Once the rail lines were cleared, 40 ft (12.1 m) ramps were connected to a self-ballasting barge where a roll-on operation to load the two tugs was completed within a six-hour time limit.
The tugs were then transported along the Fraser River to Vancouver Harbour where they were hoisted off the barge and placed into the waterfor transportation to a shipyard for completion.
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