By Mark Edward Nero
Construction company Ledcor Group, which has headquarters offices in both San Diego and Vancouver, Canada, has taken delivery of six new cargo barges that will be used to serve clients in southwest British Columbia.
The barges were designed by Capilano Maritime of North Vancouver, BC.
Ledcor, which says its marine division has grown rapidly since its inception in 2012, is on-target to double its fleet size by 2016, bringing its fleet total to nine tugboats and 23 barges.
The six new barges, which were delivered from China, were jointly designed with customer Mainland Sand & Gravel to meet its market and operational requirements. The Mainland quarry in Mission, BC, produces aggregates that are delivered to various depots on the Fraser River.
Two of the six barges are 73 meters in length (239 feet) and 18 meters (59 feet) wide, and are to carry 3,800 tons of cargo. The other four of barges are 63 meters in length (206 feet) and 18 meters wide, and will carry 3,300 tons of cargo.
The barge dimensions and cargo lift capacities are sized for the water depths available at the quarry, loading dock dimensions, and in consideration of Fraser River bridges under which the barges must transit.
