Heavy Cargo Barge 'Prometheus' Launched at Gunderson Yard
Brokers Marcon International were in attendance and inform of the launch of the 300’ x 100’ x 20’ heavy deck cargo barge “Prometheus” (Hull No. 104) built and designed by Gunderson Marine, Portland, Oregon, for Ulysses LLC.
The new barge was christened by Mimsy Huger Lindner and promptly and safely launched to the sound of the swirling bagpipes of the Clan Macleay Pipe Band.
“Prometheus” is a double raked ABS +A1 Barge with recessed bitts, a parabolic bow rake and about a 29,572ft2 clear deck. She is heavily built with a 6,000psf maximum deck load and three longitudinal and five transverse corrugated bulkheads forming 20 watertight compartments. The barge was both designed and built by Gunderson Marine, Inc. at their deepwater site on the Banks of the Willamette River in Portland.
Marcon explain that Gunderson Marine was established in 1919 and privately held until 1970 when sold to FMC and is now a subsidiary of The Greenbrier Companies, a leading supplier of railcars. In the past under the names of Gunderson Brothers Engineering Corp. and FMC Corp. they have built tankers, tugs, lighters &, landing crafts for the U.S. Navy, and even some patrol boats for the Turkish Navy and fishing vessels. The shipyard now concentrates on building ocean-going barges including conventional deck barges, double-hull tank barges, railcar/deck barges, dump barges and barges for aggregates and other heavy industrial products.
Related news about this shipyard: according to Marcon, Gunderson has received an order from Kirby Offshore Marine to build an articulated oceangoing oil and chemical tank barge, with an option for a second unit, and Foss Maritime of Seattle has also lso ordered a new 360’ x 120’ x 20’ ocean-going barge from Gunderson which is expected to be delivered in late 2014.
