Baldt Marks 85th Year As Major Supplier To Marine/Offshore Industries

This year marks the 85th anniversary of Baldt Inc. of Chester, Pa., a leading supplier of anchors, chains, related marine hardware, and mooring release systems. The company evolved over the years from a manufacturer of chain and anchors, whose credits include supplying the first WWII Liberty ship with DiLok chain, to a broad-based marine supply company. Current products include an award-winning mooring release system designed for offshore oil rigs.

Founded in 1901 as the Baldt Anchor Company, maker of cast steel anchors, the company established itself as a dominant force in the marine industry in 1925 when it acquired the sole commercial license to manufacture and market forged DiLok chain. In the 1930s the company initiated production of specialized forgings.

The war years of the early 1940s were a period of rapid growth for Baldt as military demands for anchors, chain, and hardware reached an all-time high. During this time the Patrick Henry, first of the Liberty ships (built at Bethlehem's Fairfield yard), was equipped with a Baldt stockless anchor and DiLok steel anchor chain.

Baldt's emergence as a major supplier to the offshore drilling industry dates back to 1954, when the company filled a Humble Oil order for more than 25 miles of 2-inch DiLok chain. In 1971, Baldt received its biggest order from Sedco, Inc. of Dallas for 40 miles of 3-inch ORQ stud link chain. This was specified for five of Sedco's semisubmersible drilling rigs destined for the North Sea.

Baldt's most recent response to the demands for massive mooring systems to hold various types of offshore rigs in place is a series of sophisticated rapid-release systems that allow rig operators to free a vessel from its moorings instantaneously if danger threatens. This system, called Moor-Free II , incorporates a unique disconnecting link that detonates when activated by an acoustic transducer. Moor-Free II was recently granted certification by Det norske Veritas, the Norwegian classification society.

For complete information and free literature on the Baldt product lines, Circle 19 on Reader Service Card

Maritime Reporter Magazine, page 37, 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.