port of Manitowoc shipment

[Steamboater66]

It’s just approaching 2200h EST Sunday Dec.7. At sea In the Atlantic time zone it would be just past 2300h.The BIG Blue Crane 70 tow is making good time. At this time they are sailing the southeast’s coast of Nova Scotia about15 miles offshore. They are about 115 miles NE of and approaching Halifax on their starboard bow. As per my post this a.m. they had to go long was round Cape Breton Island as the Canal Canal is closed.

[Steamboater66]

The Crane 70 tow made it round the northerly most tip of Cape Breton Island overnight Saturday. At 1030 EST Sunday they are sail along the southeast coast of Nova Scotia.

[rcrvrp]

I'm in northern Wisconsin.

[Steamboater66]

In answer to not knowing this part of the country....
The Maritime provinces are kind of like your house....solid ground. Imagine stepping out your door onto the porch. A few steps down from there and after real heavy rain there’s a huge deep puddle...
Well, PEI, Nova Scotia, or Newfoundland are like your porch. Then,and really nearby is all this big water, the Atlantic Ocean. It’s mostly wide open for thousands of square Kim’s or miles. To the North is cold country...the Arctic if you go far enough. Then there’s Europe, you guys, us in Canada. Wind is born by air heating over these places. It moves. The Atlantic is wide open until you get to places like the maritimes, where the tow is now. The wind hits these places first. Temperature differences can make it blow with differing force in different places. If there’s a lot of water like where the crane is; it can react by making waves corresponding in height to the wind force. That’s the part these guys need to be really aware of. Get a map. Look at this region. It’ll become clearer to you when you do that.
If you can, write back. Let us know where you’re located.

[Steamboater66]

I continue monitoring the big Blue Crane70 tow heading to Puget Sound. At about 1700h EST Saturday the tow was clearing the Northumberland Strait on a generally northerly heading nearing the northern tip of Cape Breton Island and a turn toward the Cabot Strait, then the Atlantic and the run generally southward into NYC.
They have escaped the gale force winds of 35-45 knots and heavy seas that stymied their progress for almost 4 days. Environment Canada forecasts show relative calm will return to this region of the maritimes possibly until Tuesday. Mileage tables indicate the distance to be in the region of 800 miles. The tow is making a speed in the area of 7 knots.

[Guest]

I know nothing about this part of the country and its weather. With winter coming on will this wicked weather be likely to continue and they could be stuck there till spring? Is ice likely to become an issue?

[Steamboater66]

It is 1216h EST.In the Atlanticregion just after 1300h. Have been monitoring the Ocean Tower on the crane 70 tow on shipinfo.net. Weather seems to be playing a huge role in stopping forward progress. For almost 3 days they’ve been going forwards,stopping, then backtracking in the Northumberland Strait just off the southern coast near Souris and Chepstow. The tracking lines are full of zigs and zags! Sure wish there was communication for us from the tug, but I guess theNavy and the company don’t want that. EnvironmentCanada/ marine weather has Souris and almost te whole area under a wind watch with rain and snow too.They report wind speeds in the area of 50kts with gusts to 70!! Those guys are gonna have their hands full to say the least. Last night a wave report said 10 to 15 metre seas were possible. Temps were -9 or so with snow!

[Guest]

Thanks much for the update. It is appreciated

[Steamboater 66]

As I write this at 00:20 EST Wed.morning Dec.3 Environment Canada has posted at 2000h EST a forecast for strong NNE winds 25 -40 knots( potentially to gale force) for the portion of the Northumberland Strait off the southeastern corner coast of Prince Edward Island where it opens out into the southern Gulf of St. Lawrence. Rain mixed with snow is very likely.
At last observation of the ais tracking map;I believe that was late Sunday had the tow at anchor about 15-20 miles off the town of Souris PEI along the south east coast of the island.
As of tonight the track line indicates that they tried to advance eastward from Souris. However, it shows that they stopped and backtracked to a point further west past Souris and much closer to the southern coastline than they were a day or two ago and roughly .maybe only 3-5 miles offshore. This leads me to think they've gotten the forecast and decided to retreat further west from the Souris area because if such a strong NNE blow comes in off the Gulf, depending on its width; it could sweep acroos the SE corner of the island where Souris is located and hit their previously safe anchorage spot.The sea portion of the forecast calls for waves ranging from3 to 12 metres!

[rcrvrp]

Does the barge have crew on it to operate a rudder and the anchor?

[Steamboater 66]

Sunday the position of Ocean Tower and Big Blue crane tow was at the midpoint of the Strait of Nortumberland south of the Confederation Bridge that joins New Brunswick to Prince Edward Island.Tonight, Mon. Dec. 1 They look to be at anchor in Strait of Northumberland close to the south shoreline of Prince Edward Island off of Charlottetown.They are headed toward the Cabot Strait, Gulf of St.Lawrence,and Atlantic Ocean in that sequence I would think; then down into New York.
A check of Environment Canada marine weather observations for the Strait of Northumberland is showing 30-35 knot NW winds and temps around -5C. Might be good reason for them to be in the lee of the PEI south coast tonight (local time there close to 2330h). Weather prediction going into Tues.for the immediate area is much like those mentioned above. Things could get tricky out there.

[Mr Link]

This is no. 2 crane to be shipped from Manitowoc. There is one more done and ready to go but have not heard when that will be.

The one currently being delivered is the third shipped from Manitowoc by the Kone/Wisconsin Heavy Fabrication (former Broadwind) partnership. The first was delivered to the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in New Hampshire in June of 2021. Number 2 was a smaller portal crane built for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and delivered to the Old River Lock in Lettsworth, Louisiana on July 22, 2022. It apparently went down the Mississippi, so obviously it must have been partially dissembled for shipping. Here is a time lapse video of it being built in Manitowoc: https://www.bwen.com/old-river-lock-crane/

[guest]

This is no. 2 crane to be shipped from Manitowoc. There is one more done and ready to go but have not heard when that will be.

[michigan]

Would be curious to know if others of you on here have thought of any of this sort of thing and the big Blue event in general.

Considering that the current crane is the third large portal crane shipped by water from Manitowoc in the past few years, some of the novelty for covering the voyages may have worn off.

[Steamboater 66]

As of Saturday morning the crane tow is moving toward the southern edge of the Gulf of St. Lawrence on her way to New York.
They look to be about 20 miles off the New Brunswick coast. For those of us who are fans of the marine scene,ships, and how amazing things like this come about and are accomplished; this story is a keeper. I find that other than via the internet and its providers; this amazing voyage would go unnoticed by the world at large. It has not had much exposure in mainstream media. The Panama Canal has wide web access points and live cams. Maybe at that point coverage will open up. Would be curious to know if others of you on here have thought of any of this sort of thing and the big Blue event in general.
Here’s a wild and crazy thought...Get the Goodyear blimp up to cover the New York arrival!!??

[rcrvrp]

I wonder when the buyer [US Navy] is officially the owner of the crane and therefore who is responsible for it on its journey.
I would think the Navy would buy it FOB its destination and that the maker would be responsible for it until it is installed and tested but I don't know. Does anyone here know?

[Statmk]

IT IS ALWAYS THE CAPTAIN'S DECISION in consultation with the owners. However, on special trips like this, the insurance company may have added some weather parameters under which they will not cover a loss that occurs if the vessel sails in violation of the covenants. Captain's decision, but having insurance coverage counts a lot.

[Steamboater66]

Ocean Tower and the Big Blue will likely be in the Montreal region sometime between the night of Tuesday the 25th and noon Wednesday the 26fh November.
Was looking at marine weather for St. Lawrence R Montreal and East. It’s looking variable-moderate to variable-ugly. I’m saying this with respect to winds and wave action...not taking in the possibilities for rain-snow, snow,fog.
Who is the person responsible for calling the appropriate safe response for the team on the tug if weather goes really ugly quickly down past Montreal and Quebec.
There’s no harbours big enough they could get into or places to get her out of the wind.
Would be interested in any opinions...especially from anyone on here who’s experienced with this kind of a deal.

[Steamboater66]

Sunday morning the tow was through the canal and tied up at the shipyard. They’ve spent the whole day moored there. Currently it is 01:05h EST. Looks on ais that they’re tied up below lock 1 at the canal entrance to L Ontario. It’s been blowing likely 20-25 mph here all day. The crane is tall. Not a good deal in wind on open water. Sanity is still present!

[Guest]

I saw a picture of the crane being towed and the tow line was much longer than I expected. What is the reason for that? Do they shorten it up in rough seas?

I think the opposite is generally true: tugs tend to lengthen their tow lines in heavy weather on open seas. The catenary (sag) of the wire acts as a shock absorber between the tug and the barge, lessening the chance that the tow line parts. And as for the Intercoastal Waterway, it has a general overhead clearance of only 65 feet (actually less at some locations.)