Sause Bros. Barge-Building Facility In Coos Bay Nearing Completion

The economy will experience a boost in the Coos Bay/North Bend, Ore., area soon.

John Sweet, director of marketing and sales for Sause Bros., Coos Bay's ocean towing company, says that its new barge-building facility (shown above) is expected to be finished by mid-year. The first oceangoing barge, designed to haul lumber with a petroleum backhaul, is already under construction on the ways. It is scheduled to be finished by late summer.

Building its own barges is a new venture for Sause Bros. They have previously been built in Portland and at a yard on the Gulf Coast. According to Mr. Sweet: "We feel that we will have a better control of construction quality as well as overall cost, in addition to adding substantially to the economy of this area." The company expects to provide steady employment for 40 people.

The drydock's cost will be in excess of a million dollars, and will accommodate two barges at a time — one under construction and maintenance on another. The barges are built on shore over two parallel sets of maine railway tracks. When completed, the barge is raised off the foundation blocks and rolled into the water on railcar wheels.

The procedure is reversed when bringing a barge in for maintenance. The 7,000-dwt barge presently under construction is 286 feet by 76 feet by 22 feet. When empty, it will draw 3 feet of water; 18 feet when loaded to capacity.

Sause Bros, now operates a fleet of 12 tugboats and 17 barges that are primarily engaged in lumber transportation to southern California from ports in Oregon, Washington, and British Columbia.

Other stories from May 15, 1981 issue

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Maritime Reporter

First published in 1881 Maritime Reporter is the world's largest audited circulation publication serving the global maritime industry.