Conrad Shipyard Delivers Unique Drydock To Republic Of Venezuela

The submersible barge/drydock Rio Manzanares designed and built by Conrad Industries, Inc. of Morgan City, La., for the Republic of Venezuela, left the port recently under tow to its South American home port of Guanta. The unusual vessel was accepted on behalf of Venezuela by Capt. Jesus Enrique D'Paola, naval director of the Institute Nacional de Canalizaciones (INC). Breaking the traditional bottle of champagne that trailed streamers of yellow, blue, and red (Venezuela's national colors), Mrs.

D'Paola sponsored the vessel.

Classed by the American Bureau of Shipping + A1 Ocean Service, Submersible Barge/Drydock, the Rio Manzanares is the first vessel of its kind built utilizing a new Conrad concept. In the transportation mode, the 180- by 64-foot vessel that measures 52 feet 6 inches between wingwalls is capable of carrying 1,100 tons. In the drydock mode, it can handle 1,800 tons. This barge/drydock, with 18-foot-high wingwalls 5 feet 9 inches thick, will be used by the INC of Venezuela to transport suction and hydraulic dredges and various other waterway maintenance equipment in open sea conditions.

Built into the wingwalls that run the full length of the vessel is a generator room housing a 150-kw Caterpillar diesel generator. The wingwalls are also used for fuel storage, and each of the 12 watertight compartments is fitted with its own electrically driven pump for deballasting.

Four of the Louisiana-manufactured Lo-Lift pumps have a capacity of 1,400 gpm; the other eight are rated 1,000 gpm. The 8-foot-deep pontoon section, raked at both ends, is fitted with skegs on the stern.

Conrad Industries, founded by J. Parker Conrad in 1948, has gained a place in the international market through innovative designs in building vessels that can be used for multiple purposes. The company specializes in steel barge and drydock construction, boat and barge repairs, vessel conversions, sandblasting and painting, machine shop operations, and propeller reconditioning. Its 2,400-ton drydock accommodates vessels up to 220 feet long. Additional drydocks include two with 900-ton capacity and one with 2,000-ton capacity.

For further information on Conrad's facilities and its design and construction capabilities, Circle 35 on Reader Service Card

Maritime Reporter Magazine, page 45, Aug 1986

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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.