The following is the text of a news release from The Shearer Group:
(SEABROOK, Texas) — Bos Smith, vice president, operations, with Stevens Towing Co. Inc. of Yonges Island, S.C., announces the delivery of Ocean Ranger, a 200-by-72-by-14-foot ABS-classed floating crane barge. The barge was designed by The Shearer Group Inc. of Seabrook, Texas, and built by Metal Trades Inc. of Yonges Island, S.C. Additional engineering for the crane boom and back-leg foundations and associated equipment was provided by TEEARC Engineering of Henderson, Nev.
The barge is certified at 500 short tons lifting and capable of being certified at 700 short tons lifting. Allowable deck loading is 3,200 pounds per square foot. The boom was originally built by Manitowoc and installed on the ocean service crane barge Cherokee. It was refurbished and installed on Ocean Ranger by Stevens Towing.
Ocean Ranger is equipped with a ballasting system to allow minimum trim when making lifts. The mooring winch is a diesel-driven Clyde Frame 8. The hoist winches are Skagit Model RB-90. The Shearer Group worked with Stevens Towing and TEEARC to analyze the operating requirements and maximum utilization of the vessel.