Barge Derrick
Crane, barge, 115-ton
The new 115-ton BD crane enhances the capability of the Army to deploy. The mission of the BD crane is to lift heavy, oversize Army equipment onto the decks of Navy sealift ships for transport overseas. In deploying equipment to countries without developed ports, the crane could be anchored offshore to lift equipment onto landing craft headed for the beach. A secondary mission of the crane will be to conduct salvage operations and clear wrecks from port channels, anchorages and harbors. It is larger and has more lift capacity than the Army's older BD cranes. With its extended reach, the new crane can lift an M1 Abrams tank off the top deck of the Navy's largest cargo ship.
The Army's newest watercraft -- Barge Derrick 6801 -- was christened Keystone State on June 24, 1998. Keystone State is the state motto of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The Keystone State was christened in honor of soldiers from the 14th Quartermaster Detachment, based in Greensburg, Pa., who were killed when a SCUD hit their makeshift barracks in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia, on Feb. 25, 1991. It was the single, most devastating blow of the war. Thirteen of the 28 soldiers killed in the SCUD attack were from the 14th Quartermaster Detachment, and many of the 99 wounded were from that unit. That detachment suffered the heaviest losses of any unit during the Gulf War.
The Army's Barge Derrick 6801 Keystone State class should not be confused with the much larger Navy Auxiliary Crane Ships T-ACS Keystone State Class ships which are conversion crane ships.
The BD crane is built by Bollinger Shipyards in Lockport, LA. The Keystone State is the first new floating crane to be built for the Army in 40 years. The Keystone State is the first of four of its kind being built for the Army. Additional units of this class include the 115 Ton Barge Derrick crane Saltillo (BD-6802) and the Army's newest 115 Ton Barge Derrick crane Springfield ( BD-6803). There are presently four Barge Derricks under contract and being constructed at Bollinger Shipyards, Inc. There are options for construction of two additional vessels for a total of six Barge Derricks to complete the intra theater requirements of the Army.
The first unit equipped with the Keystone State Class Barge Derrick is the 949th Transportation Company (Floating Craft), a subordinate unit of the I 176th Transportation Terminal Brigade, 99th Regional Readiness Command. The 949th is collocated with the 1176th at the Brandt U.S. Army Reserve Center, in Baltimore, Md.
It's 200-foot length and 80-foot breadth dwarfs the older barge derricks and it is significantly more mission-capable. The old BD only rated 89 tons and it's boom reach was not sufficient to lift an M-1 main battle tank from the weather deck of the new ships. The new crane can lift 115 long tons and has a reach of 175 feet. It's also easier to operate and safer. And the spacious, air-conditioned work areas, galley and staterooms in the new crane improve quality of life for its crew.
Despite being larger, the new barge is easier to tow, because of large scags (rudder-like fixtures) on the bottom of the barge. The lifting power plant is a 1,200 BHP Cummins Crane Engine. The old BD crane had a diesel engine driven through electronic motors, which was hard to maintain. This new one has modern hydraulic stuff, which is very efficient and very powerful.
Production Status for Barge Derrick
| Production Milestone | 6801 | 6802 | 6803 | 6804 |
| Start Construction | 6/96 | 9/97 | 3/98 | 3/99 |
| Launch | 6/97 | 6/98 | 1/99 | 11/99 |
| Crane Installation | 1/98 | 12/98 | 7/99 | 6/00 |
| Builders Trials | 4/98 | 3/99 | 10/99 | 10/00 |
| Delivery | 5/98 | 4/99 | 3/00 | 11/00 |
Vessel Names for Barge Derrick
| Boat Number | Boat Name | Delivery Date | Homeport |
| 6801 | Keystone State | 5/98 | 949th Transportation Company, Brandt U.S. Army Reserve Center, Baltimore, Md. |
| 6802 | Saltillo | 4/99 | 73rd Transportation Company, Fort Eustis, Va. |
| 6803 | Springfield | 3/00 | 7th Transportation Group, Ft. Eustis, Va. |
| 6804 | Delaware | 11/00 | TBD |
Crane, barge, 89-ton Design 264B
The BD 89T is used to load and discharge heavy lift cargo that is beyond the capacity of ship's gear. It is commonly called the 100-ton crane which is the short ton capacity rating. The BD 89T is not self-propelled; it can be towed overseas or deck-loaded aboard a semi-submersible ship for transport.
Its characteristics and capabilities include:
- Length overall: 140 feet.
- Beam: 70 feet.
- Displacement (weight): 1,630 (loaded).
- Boom length: 123.5 feet.
- Capacity: 89 LTONs at 80-foot radius.
- Draft: 6.3 feet (loaded).
The specific purpose and function of the 100-ton floating crane is to move loads that are within its rated capacity. This crane (Design 264B) has been reconditioned and modernized under the PIP. One of the improvements is the upgrading of the auxiliary lift to 28 STONs, making the crane adaptable to container operations. The crane is equipped with two power-generation systems. The original DC power system is still used to power the hoisting and rotating machinery. Under the PIP a second power system was installed, providing AC power for the ship's services. The crew's quarters and shipboard sanitation system have also been modernized. Although the floating crane must be towed to each work site, it is self-sustaining and classified as a Category C-1 vessel. A broad description of the crane and its operation is given in this chapter. Succeeding chapters describe the function, operation, and maintenance requirements for those new items and systems brought aboard through the modernization program. This includes the AC power-generating systems and those items that operate on it.
The 100-ton floated crane is mounted on a rigid, welded steel barge having a length overall (LOA) of 140 feet, a beam of 70 feet, and a depth of 12 feet 6 inches. The main hoist has a maximum-rated lift capacity of 200,000 pounds or 100 STONs. The auxiliary lift has a maximum rated lift of 56,000 pounds or 28 STONs. The crane has a turning radius of 360 degrees. The crane is unique in having two separate power systems. The set of DC generators powers the crane's hoisting and rotating equipment found in the machinery house and operator's cab. The set of AC generators provides for the ship's service. With a maximum authorized crew of 15, the floating crane is self-sustaining and capable of being towed overseas.
A portion of the floating crane barge is used as the crew's quarters. This area is air-conditioned, and the sleeping area can accommodate six bunks. The galley area is equipped with an electric range, an 8-cubic-foot refrigerator, a 120-gallon freshwater tank, and mess facilities. The engine room portion of the 100-ton floating crane barge has two generator sets (30 kw, 240 VAC) for the ship's services, a hot-water boiler, a 23-CFM (cubic feet per minute), 250-psi air compressor, oil-water separator system, DC generators, carbon dioxide (CO2) fire system, and other miscellaneous items of machinery. The DC generator sets, located in the engine room, are used to operate the crane mechanism. The operator's cab is equipped with all required operating controls, an AN/URC80(V)1 radio set, and a 12,000 BTU/hour air conditioner. For on-board communication, portable radio sets are provided to the crew. A fire main system and sewage waste system with a 500-gallon holding tank are installed on the 100-ton floating crane barge. The federal pollution abatement requirements are now met with the installation of self-contained bilge water processing, fuel oil handling, and sewage disposal. The oil water accumulated in the bilges of the engine room is pumped through the oil-water separator into the holding tank for later disposal to shoreside. The bilge piping system is arranged so that the oil-water separator pump provides suction from the bilge pockets to the holding tank. This piping arrangement also permits the oil-water separator to provide suction of the oily waste from the holding tank to the deck connection for transfer to a shore facility. The piping for the fuel oil transfer point is modified to contain accidental oil spills during fueling or transfer operations. The sanitation system for human wastes is self-contained. The sewage disposal requirements are met by using a standard commode which uses oil as a flushing medium. The below-deck, oil-flush sewage system and 500-gallon holding tank provide for sewage containment until shore discharge is required.
Crane, barge, 60-ton Design 413D
The 60-ton floating cranes still in use lift and move loads associated with general marine work and within their rated capacity. This crane (Design 413D) is not self-sustaining and must be towed to its work site. It is classified as a Category C-2 vessel and has an authorized strength of 11 personnel. The operator's cab, engine, hoist, and swing machinery are all part of the machinery house. A DC power system provides all power aboard the 60-ton crane.
The various pieces of barge and crane equipment have been designed, selected, and installed to provide well-coordinated pieces of operating machinery to comply with specified requirements. Safety devices and guards have been built into or about the equipment to protect both the crane and crane operating personnel.
The revolving crane on this unit has a lift capacity of 60 LTONs (2,240 pounds) with a maximum radius of 73 feet. The crane is powered by a diesel-electric generator set. The diesel engine, nominally rated at 250 BHP at 600 RPMs and coupled to a 150-kilowatt, DC generator, supplies electrical energy to the hoist motor, swinger motor, and other equipment. The machinery house and operator's cab are fully enclosed and contain the crane machinery, power units, control panels, auxiliary pumps, and operator's controls. The housing rests cm a steel beam platform that forms the rotating crane base. The entire crane rotates on double-flange steel rollers turning on circular steel tracks around a center steadiment. An auxiliary generator set, consisting of a diesel engine coupled to a DC generator, supplies auxiliary power to operate the air compressor, fuel oil pump, freshwater pump, and other equipment. This unit is also used to provide auxiliary power for lighting, pumps, and other equipment when the main power unit is not in operation. This crane is suitable for loading and unloading heavy lifts of cargo and is mounted on a nonpropelled barge.
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