The largest marine craft yet to be built in Trinidad has recently gone into service for Trinmar Ltd.
Called Soldado Crane, this 25-ton crane barge has been designed for servicing deep-water moorings in the offshore oilfield located near the large Texaco refinery of Pointe-a-Pierre.
With an overall length of 110 feet, 44-foot breadth and a depth of 9 feet, this barge was built at the new and modern ship repair yard of Furness-Smiths Dock sited at Port Chaguaramas, Trinidad. This vessel is the third new-building contract to be completed at this yard and two further new buildings are under construction.
The crane barge was designed by British naval architects, Burness Corlett & Partners, and is the first vessel to be constructed in Trinidad to the requirements of Lloyd's Register of Shipping.
A Demag tracked crane was adapted for deck mounting and as now constructed the vessel can lift and slew 25-ton loads through 360 degrees. Provision has also been made for the subsequent installation of an A frame which will permit heavy loads of up to 60 tons to be lifted over the bows. At a small additional cost, the barge can be adapted for pipe laying work. Radius swim ends give additional stability to this versatile and well-equipped craft.
Power is supplied from two British Thompson Houston generators, type ATK-104 440 volt, 355 kva driven by Paxman type 12 RPH, 426-bhp diesel engines mounted in the center compartment. Day accommodations are provided for 12 men below deck. Four Clarke Chapman 25-ton winches are positioned on the forward deck.
The general standard of workmanship has proved extremely high and the completion of this craft is considered an important milestone in the development of Trinidad as a natural ship repair center for the South American coast and Caribbean.
Furness-Smiths Dock is a joint venture between the Swan Hunter Group Ltd., Wallsend-on-Tyne, and Furness-Withy Ltd., London.