(PORTLAND, Ore.) — Gunderson Marine & Iron marked a significant milestone Saturday with the simultaneous launch of two newly constructed barges from its side launch ways in Portland: Mt. Rainier, a Tidewater refined products barge, and Cordova Provider II, a deck cargo barge built for Lynden.
The dual launch highlighted the capability of Gunderson’s waterfront operations and the coordination required across engineering, planning, production, safety and launch teams to carry out two vessel launches at the same time. This was the first simultaneous launch of two vessels in Gunderson’s history.
Mt. Rainier is a refined products barge designed to operate on the Columbia and Snake River systems. The vessel will add capacity to Tidewater’s fleet, strengthening the reliable delivery of critical energy supplies to communities and industries across the Pacific Northwest.
Launching alongside it was Cordova Provider II, a deck cargo barge built for Lynden and destined for service in Alaska. The vessel is intended to serve Alaska’s Prince William Sound communities, supporting critical freight services that many residents and businesses depend on.
The event included a blessing and christening of both vessels before the launch sequence. At the designated moment, the launch mechanisms were released and both barges entered the river in a carefully coordinated operation, creating a notable operational achievement and a memorable moment for customers, employees and guests.
“This dual launch represents the skill of our workforce, the strength of our planning and execution, and the pride we take in building vessels that serve critical transportation needs in the Pacific Northwest and Alaska,” said Dee Burch, owner, president and CEO of Gunderson.
Click here for a video of the event.
– Gunderson Marine & Iron
