C&C Marine and Repair, located on the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway in Belle Chasse, La., has delivered a new 160-foot idler barge to Houston-based Orion Marine Construction Inc. The unmanned barge, designed by The Shearer Group, features an integrated walking-spud system which allows a dredge-plus-idler-barge unit to advance in increments of about 30 feet.
The system incorporates a traveling spud carrier, a fixed stern spud, dedicated spud towers, and electrically driven hoisting winches. A push-pull winch controls the longitudinal movement of the spud carrier, allowing the barge to reposition the connected dredge during dredging operations.
According to the shipyard, Orion worked closely with C&C Marine’s project management and production teams to incorporate adjustments and modifications to the dredge in order to meet the company’s operational requirements. C&C completed the project in about eight months.
The walking-spud idler barge is the latest dredging-related project for C&C Marine and Repair. Besides idler barges, the shipyard has also delivered cutter suction dredges, multipurpose dredge support vessels, booster barges, towboats, anchor barges, deck barges, and crane barges.
C&C previously delivered a pair of 3,000-hp. Damen Multi Cat 3013 multipurpose workboats to Callan Marine. Two additional Multi Cats, built on spec, are currently available for lease or purchase from C&C. The triple-screw vessels are designed for towing, pushing, lifting, anchor handling, buoy recovery, surveying, and other work that supports marine construction and dredging operations. The Multi Cats have about 30 tons of bollard pull and are powered by three Caterpillar C32 main engines.
C&C Marine is nearing completion on a 30-inch cutter suction dredge, also built on speculation. The dredge measures about 360’x56’ and is designed to dredge in depths ranging from about 10’ to 82’. The dredge features an underwater dredge pump, an inboard dredge pump, and a spud-carrier system and anchor booms that allow it to reposition without outside vessel assistance.
“Projects such as the Orion idler barge, the two Multi Cats, and the 30-inch cutter suction dredge demonstrate the range of our shipbuilding capabilities and the experience of our workforce,” said Tony Cibilich, president and owner of C&C Marine and Repair. “We are proud to support the domestic dredging and marine construction industries with purpose-built vessels engineered for demanding operating environments.”
Founded in 1997, C&C Marine and Repair is located on 100 acres along the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway, with access to the Mississippi River and Gulf.
