Tappan Zee Bridge News

The almost 100-year old firm has many specialties, including the ability to construct innovative, complicated tonnage for its own purposes. The slowdown in barge construction in some sectors hasn’t dampened the need for specialty barges in other areas. In many cases, these mission requirements can involve the repurposing of existing tonnage using sometimes innovative and unusual design parameters. Such was the case when Cranford, NJ-based Weeks Marine (WMI) completed the conversion of an existing ABS deck barge into a loadline compliant, semi-submersible, all self-contained unit. Its first assignment involved transit to Canada for the launching of concrete caissons in Halifax, Nova Scotia for a new pier.

Coast Guard crews are enforcing a safety zone on the Hudson River around the Tappan Zee Bridge after a crane collapsed Tuesday afternoon. At approximately 12:15 p.m., Tuesday, Coast Guard Sector New York received a report of a partial crane collapse across the western end of the Tappan Zee Bridge, which has closed the roadway to traffic for an undetermined period of time. A crane operator was safely recovered from the water by a Westchester County Marine unit after the collapse. A Smallboat crew from Coast Guard Station New York is enforcing a safety zone around the site of the incident and will remain in place for as long as necessary.

The Coast Guard monitored the hoist of the tugboat Specialist near the Tappan Zee Bridge today. The Specialist was part of a three-tug group that was pushing a crane barge south on the Hudson River. The 84-foot long vessel struck a stationary barge near the Tappan Zee Bridge at approximately 5:30 a.m., March 12, 2016 and sank in 40 feet of water within a short period of time. One crewmember was recovered from the water in the immediate aftermath of the collision but could not be revived. Divers recovered a second crewmember’s body at approximately 11 A.M., March 13, 2016. Divers located the third crewmember on March 14, 2016 but were unable to safely remove him from the Specialist.

The U.S.Coast Guard reports that it and local partner agency crews are searching for two people in the water after a tugboat struck a barge and sank near the Tappan Zee Bridge Saturday (March 12) morning. Watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector New York received notification at 5:20 a.m., Saturday of the 90-foot tugboat Specialist, striking a barge and sinking with three people aboard near the Tappan Zee Bridge. Coast Guard Station New York launched a 45-foot Response Boat-Medium boatcrew to search for the three people in the water. At approximately 5:30 a.m. one person was recovered by a first responder in the area and transported ashore to awaiting EMS crews.

Marcon International, Inc. of Coupeville, Washington reported that Stabbert Maritime of Seattle has time chartered the U.S. flag, DP-1, research vessel Ocean Pioneer (ex: Seabulk Montana, Montana, Seabulk Montana, Indian Seal) to FMC Technology of Davis, California. The 205' x 40' x 17' depth vessel was built in 1974 by Burton Shipyard in Port Arthur, Texas for Seal Fleet of Galveston, Texas and acquired by Hvide Marine, Inc. in 1996, along with seven other offshore supply boats. Hvide reorganized in 2001 and was renamed Seabulk International.

Multiple sources reported that two large construction barges moored near the Tappan Zee Bridge in New York broke free and floated down the Hudson River. Strong winds from a recent snowstorm caused the barges to break from their moorings and float down the river, one traveling as far as 15 miles before being recovered. Both barges have been put back into place. There has been no report of injuries. The Associated Press pointed out that this is not the first time a barge has broken free from the Tappan Zee project. A 50-foot barge broke loose in September and traveled one mile before being recovered by police. Sources: AP, staff

After a 5,233 nautical mile tow of the ocean crane barge Thomas W from Long Beach, California through the Panama Canal, the Miss Lis reached its destination in the Hudson River, New York. The journey took 52 days. Tug and tow departed Long Beach during the first full week of August and arrived in New York in late September. Laborde Products repowered this engine with twin Mitsubishi S12R-MPTA engines rated at 2,800 bhp. The 225' L x 78' W x 15' D, ABS +A1 Ocean crane barge, outfitted with a 400 T Whirley with a 150' boom…

Marcon International, Inc. of Coupeville, Washington reported that after 52 days, the 2,800BHP twin screw tug Miss Lis (ex-Kari A, Marine Pioneer) successfully completed the 5,233nm tow of the ocean crane barge Thomas W from Long Beach, California through the Panama Canal to the Hudson River in New York. The 225’ x 78’ x 15’ depth, ABS +A1 Ocean crane barge, outfitted with a 400T Whirley with a 150’ boom, and laden with three smaller flat deck barges, was destined for the new Tappan Zee Bridge Project in New York.

Rising sea levels and changes in water chemistry in New York Harbor and beyond should trigger a comprehensive planning effort to protect waterfront development from the threat of potential inundation, according to Malcolm G. McLaren of McLaren Engineering Group. “People know about global warming but very little discussion has centered on how to plan for it,” said McLaren, founder, president and CEO of the West Nyack, N.Y.-based firm. “If sea levels continue to rise at their current rate, large stretches of shoreline development will be jeopardized. Due in part to glacial melting, tide levels around New York Harbor have risen more than a foot since the original mean sea-level readings were established in Sandy Hook, N.J., some 80 years ago.

The New York State Thruway Authority has awarded a contract to Penn Yan Marine Manufacturing Corporation for construction of a custom work boat for inspection and maintenance in the Tappan Zee Bridge area of New York. The model selected is Penn Yan's 2001 Spector, which is 20.5 ft. long, with an eight ft. beam. The model features Penn Yan's new Center Console with a unique forward deck, making it especially suited to the requirements of the job, by providing a large lockable equipment locker, as well as a large work platform at the bow, leaving considerable uncluttered cockpit area available. Powered by a Johnson 115 hp OceanPro outboard motor, the vessel will attain speeds of 36-38 mph.