Dock Express 10 loaded with 2 cranes arrives in Charleston

Project Summary

In August 2000, the Dock Express 10 delivered two 4-th generation container cranes to the Wondo Container Terminal in Charleston, South Carolina. To clear the Cooper River bridge, the vessel was ballasted down to maximum draft.

Argonautics Marine Engineering was hired to supervise the so-called "Miami" method offloading. After removal of the tie downs, the 1,100 t cranes were skidded aft over the ship's outriggers until the crane's landside sill beam could be lowered onto a set of jack boogies, which moved the crane further over the quay. Once in position, the waterside sill beam was temporarily supported by wood blocks, enabling the ship to move forward. The waterside was then picked up again and the waterside trucks could be rotated and lowered onto the rails. The landside was then jacked up for installation of the landside trucks after which these were also lowered onto the rails. After 3 days preparations, both cranes were offloaded in 3 consecutive days, within the favorable tide windows. 

Scope of Work

The project scope included:

• Coordination of activities during offloading;

• Liaison with ship crew, client and its subcontractor;

• Setting-up of rail track and jacking boogies as per the Dockwise Offloading Procedure;

• Provision of on-site supervision during offloading operation.

Project Photographs

The boom of the forward crane clear the Cooper River bridge with an adequate margin.	The first crane completely offloaded. Getting ready to install the crane trucks.	The landside sill beam is jacked up to install the trucks.	The second crane being rolled/skidded off the ship.