PORTLAND, Ore. - US Fab, a Vigor Industrial company, announced
this week it will soon begin construction on a 250’x70’x15’8” deck barge for
Harley Marine Services at Vigor’s Swan Island shipyard here. Designed by Jensen
Maritime Consultants, it will transport a wide variety of cargo between Dutch
Harbor and Akutan, Alaska, with up to three runs per week, according to a press
release.
“Having the ability to collaborate with Jensen and Harley
during the initial production design for this barge, will allow us to have
maximum efficiency during construction,” said Bryan Nichols, sales manager at
Vigor Industrial, in a release. “We were able to combine shipbuilding best
practices with Jensen’s considerable design expertise and Harley’s requirements
to finalize a cost effective, buildable design with quick turnaround.”
The barge, which will be named Iliuliuk Bay, an Aleut name
meaning big island, will house a 230-ton lift capacity Manitowoc 4100 crawler
crane. The vessel’s design features both D-rings to secure containers up to
three high as well as eight lashing bars running fore and aft for other cargo
such as heavy construction machinery or general equipment.
“We needed a workhorse to replace our existing barge,” said
Jim Weimer, GM of Alaska-based Pacific Coast Maritime, a subsidiary of Harley
Marine Services, in a statement. “Having the ability to easily switch back and
forth between containers and other cargo will help Harley Marine continue to
provide quality and timely marine services to our customers.”