Lois M moves big barge, with a little help from a friend

With preparation work completed on the deck of the barge Nunavut Spirit, it was ready to move from pier 9B this afternoon. The tug Lois M that brought the barge in on March 27 still had its heavy towing connection in place.

In order to come alongside the barge, the harbour tug Atlantic Larch was called in to pull the barge's bow off the dock, allowing Lois M to slip in along the barge's starboard side.

After Lois M was secured, the two tugs moved the barge out into the stream and it became apparent why Lois M did not simply secure on the barge's port side. Two large structures project from the barge's hull, presumably part of a mooring arrangement, leaving  no room to get alongside.

Once turned, the barge was moved stern first to the Cherubini dock in Eisner's Cove, Eastern Passage. Cherubini Metal Works have built a number of components for the Hebron Gravity Base, and these will be loaded aboard using Cherubini's 500 tonne crane. Special fittings on the barge's deck will be used to secure the loads, which will be installed directly from the barge at Bull Arm, NL.

The Cherubini dock in Eisner's Cove was built to ship large steel fabrications, and since this photo was taken has been equipped with a large crane pad and 500 tonne crane.

Today's view of Cherubini, with Nunavut Spirit and Lois M alongside.