Page 32: of Marine News Magazine (August 2023)

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Feature

Shipyard Equipment new facility will expand BAE Systems’ docking capacity by 300%, all enabled by a modern Pearlson Shiplift sys- tem capable of lifting a Ticonderoga-Class Guided Missile

Cruiser, Arleigh Burke-Class Guided Missile Destroyer, the new Constellation-Class Guided Missile Frigate or a

Panamax commercial vessel, with laydown area ashore to re? t and repair multiple vessels at one time,” Spratto said.

With on-site construction activities already underway,

Spratto said the yard will continue to function at full capacity with two marine railways and a 13,500-ton drydock through much of the construction period until the shiplift and land- level facility are certi? ed and commissioned in 2025.

For Pearlson Shiplift Corporation, a key partner in the

BAE Jacksonville project, business has been good. The

Miami-based company in early July reported it has secured four contracts within the past nine months, boosting its order backlog to more than $200 million. One of these projects, which is for an undisclosed customer to be an- nounced in the coming months, will be the largest of its

Central to a new repair complex at BAE Systems kind ever seen in its commercial market, according to

Jacksonville Ship Repair will be a new shiplift, used

Bryan Fraind, chief operating of? cer at Pearlson Shiplift. for hauling ships out of and back into the water, as

Fraind added that the company expects to announce sev- well as a self-propelled modular transport system for eral new projects in 2023 and beyond.

carrying ships to and from the new land-level facility.

BAE Systems

Marine Travelift is now offering variable width options for its lineup of

BFMII and C-Series mobile boat hoist machines, allowing shipyards to block vessels closer together to maximize space previously unavailable because of overall width dimensions on a standard ? xed width boat hoist. The new option also unlocks the ability to move vessels through narrower doorways or other tight spaces.

“The variable width option provides the ability to handle a wider variety of hulls and without any major infrastructure changes. With the ability to vary the boat hoist width, you can not only lift wide vessels such as catamarans, but narrower mono hulls as well without exceeding recommended sling angles.” said Kurt Minten, executive VP at Marine Travelift.

This new option is powered by a hydraulic ram, housed within

Marine Group Boat Works the telescoping top beam, and is assisted by Marine Travelift’s patented all-wheel electronic steering option. These two components are teamed with a control loop system that includes angle sensors, a distance sensor and wheel encoder to keep the machine square and ensure safe expansion and retraction throughout the full range of variability. The extension and retraction functions can occur on either side of the machine for ? exibility and maximum maneuverability. It is also designed to handle full load across the entire width spectrum and can stop anywhere within the full range of variability, with or without a vessel in the slings.

Marine Travelift said it already has orders in place for 35-, 50- and 150-metric-ton models, which are all scheduled to be delivered in 2023. The ? rst hoist with the variable width option is a 75BFMII (75 metric ton lifting capacity) delivered to Marine Group Boat Works’ San

Jose del Cabo location in March. The hoist offers nine feet of width variability and can expand and retract under full load in 60 seconds.

“The variable width machine allows us to utilize otherwise lost space with a traditional boat hoist”, said Pete Horner, general manager at the Los Cabos yard. “It’s a twofold solution for us as we can continue to grow our business in the same physical footprint and work on more boats at the same time, ultimately limiting customer downtime and maximizing pro? tability.” 32 | MN August 2023