Bristol Harbor Group South Inc.

Bristol Harbor Group, Inc. provides Barge Design and Construction Oversight Services for the New York Power Authority

Bristol, RI – July 23, 2010 – Bristol Harbor Group, Inc., (BHGI), has reached the final design phase for an 80’ x 34’ x 5’ Pedestal Crane Barge design for The New York Power Authority, (NYPA). The Pedestal Crane Barge, also known as a “Floating Crane,” is currently under construction at Great Lakes Shipyard in Cleveland, OH, where Bristol Harbor Group South, Inc. is providing construction oversight services. BHGI began by conducting an initial on-site investigation of the ice boom, and the existing Ice Boom Work Barge, HAVASU - currently in use as a work platform for NYPA personnel during install & removal of the Lake Erie Ice Boom. This investigation included a detailed review of the HAVASU, current retrieval and removal procedures, and deviations considered for the new barge.

Throughout each of BHGI’s design phases, special considerations were taken to ensure environmental sustainability of the new work barge, as well as the barge’s necessity to operate in icing conditions. As an example, the thickness of the side shell and bottom shell plating was increased in order to protect against damage during ice operations. BHGI also relocated the spud wells inboard from the side shell (where they currently exist on the HAVASU) to aid in the flow of ice around the barge and pushboat.

A combination of flanged plate and channel extrusions were used for the main transverse framing in order to reduce the overall weight of the barge, while keeping construction costs down. The bow and stern rakes represented a particular challenge in the design due to the relatively small depth of the barge. BHGI opted to design four swash bulkheads (two on either side of the centerline bulkhead) to support the rake ends and the deck given the limited depth. The arrangement will both result in easier fit up during construction, and provide better support for the bow when the barge is being pushed through the ice.

Working with the NYPA officials and work crew, BHGI incorporated several key elements in the design of the new work barge, including a pedestal mounted Terex HC-80 crane with a 50 foot lattice boom. Additionally, the barge will be receiving a new E&K three drum winch. For crew comfort, a permanent deck house was added to the barge with a small electrical distribution center and space for a small 5kW portable generator.

BHGI designed the vessel’s structure to exceed the requirements of the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS), and added a corrosion allowance to provide for a long and productive service life. Expected service date for the barge is November 2010. She will be used by NYPA for the install, removal and maintenance of the Lake Erie Ice Boom on the Niagara River, and near the outlet of Lake Erie, replacing the HAVASU.

Trinity Marine Products Launches Argosy Transportation Group’s Deck Barge, Jean-M 2501.

Bristol, RI – July 2, 2010 – Designed by Bristol Harbor Group, Inc., (BHGI), Bristol, RI, under contract by Argosy Transportation Group, Inc., Bellaire, TX, the Jean-M 2501, a very heavily built inland deck barge, was launched this week and is set to enter service next week. The 250’ x 54’ x 12’ barge is designed to transport large, over-dimensional cargo on the inland waterways.

A 3/4" thick deck and substantial longitudinal stiffeners will allow her to not only carry a 3,000 lbs / sq. ft. deck load, but to do so anywhere along her length. The barge has a very stiff hull girder, which allows her to carry the heavy project cargo that Argosy is known for. Additionally, the barge features a heavily built box stern, specifically designed for large and heavy roll-on, roll-off operations. Further, her internal scantlings were designed specifically for water ballasted operations, another hallmark of her roll-on, roll-off mission. Lastly, every effort was made to make the barge friendly to the riggers that will load these large cargoes on her. For instance, in addition to D-rings that are being welded on the deck above a longitudinal stiffener (i.e. backed up), the manholes down the center of the barge were designed to be perfectly flush with the main deck so as not to provide the riggers with any obstructions.

Regarding Bristol Harbor Group, Inc. (BHGI): BHGI has been in business for fifteen years. The principals formed their company in 1993 to design a passenger vessel while still students in the Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering Department at the University of Michigan. This entrepreneurial spirit continued with the incorporation of Bristol Harbor Group, Inc. (formerly FG Marine Design, Inc.) in 1995. The company has grown every year and has completed designs and provided construction support for passenger vessels, tugs, barges, fishing boats and yachts; along with numerous consulting contracts.

In 2009, BHGI launched a field support office in Houston, TX. Bristol Harbor Group South, Inc. (BHGS), and specifically Russell Bostock of BHGS, served as our surveyor for the Jean-M 2501. He ensured that the barge was built to the plans, and provided construction oversight for the customer. Russell is intimately familiar with the vessel, and was present at the launching, representing BHGS and BHGI.

Posted: 02JUL10

Bristol, RI – February 8^th, 2010 - Argosy Transportation Group, Inc., Bellaire, TX, has signed a contract with Trinity Marine Products, Inc., Madisonville, LA, to build the Jean-M 2501, a 250’ x 54’ x 12’ inland deck barge. The vessel, designed by Bristol Harbor Group, Inc. (BHGI), will have a 3,000 Pound per Square Foot (PSF) maximum allowable deck load, and will primarily service the inland project cargo market.

In a quote from Rider Griswold, President of Argosy Transportation Group, Inc., “we’re excited to be moving forward with this, our second, purpose built deck barge for project cargo movements. The Jean-M represents a significant increase in our cargo movement capabilities and will be a welcome addition to our fleet.”

Argosy has chosen BHGI’s Houston affiliate, Bristol Harbor Group South, Inc. (BHGS), to oversee construction of the barge at Trinity Marine Products, Inc. Russell Bostock, BHGS Manager of Marine Surveying, will be personally attending the vessel during construction in the first half of 2010. Delivery is expected in early July 2010.

BHGI and BHGS together provide naval architecture, marine engineering and construction oversight services to a wide variety of customers. Commercial work includes small passenger vessels, oil and deck barges, tugboats, patrol vessels and offshore supply boats. Recreational vessel work includes mega yachts as well as powerboats and sailboats. BHGI is located at 103 Poppasquash Road in Bristol, RI, and the management team of BHGI can be contacted by phone at 401-253-4318, or visit their website: www.bristolharborgroup.com. BHGS is located at 4747 Bellaire Blvd, Suite 275, Bellaire, TX, and their management team can be contacted by phone at 713-343-8603, or you can visit their website: www.bhgsouth.com.

Bristol Harbor Group, Inc. Designs Lashings for Hemisphere, the “World’s Largest Sailing Catamaran”

Bristol, RI – November 9, 2009 - Bristol Harbor Group, Inc’s (BHGI) recent lashing design has helped secure the safe transport of the world’s largest sailing catamaran, Hemisphere, safely from Derecktor Shipyard in Bridgeport, CT where she was built, to Quonset Point, North Kingstown, RI. From Quonset, a Rickmers heavy lift ship transported Hemsiphere to her final fit-out at Pendennis Shipyard in Falmouth, UK.

Logistics Company, Peters & May Ltd. contracted BHGI to devise the lashing plan to secure the 44.2m (145 ft), Hemisphere, to the structure of Catherine, a 45.7m (150 ft) deck barge. The designed lashing plan, which included BHGI designed loading grids, had to distribute the load efficiently from the keels of Hemisphere to the structure of Catherine. Lending some familiarity to the project was the factthat Catherine, owned by Hughes Marine of Edison, NJ, had been designed by BHGI and built by Senesco Marine in North Kingstown, RI over a decade ago. Gavin Bladen, Captain of the sailing yacht Hemisphere commented, “Firstly I greatly appreciate your involvement with these barge arrangements, I’m not sure how we would have progressed without your support and commitment.”

As the surveyors for the underwriters requested an allowable sea state envelope, Maine Marine Composites, LLC of Portland, ME, and, specifically Dick Akers, P.E., were commissioned on behalf of BHGI to conduct a hydrodynamic analysis of the barge and cargo under maximum allowable sea states. The seakeeping analysis was used to predict motions and accelerations of the yacht and barge, and was accomplished using the Visual SMP computer program which is based on the U.S. Navy Standard Ship Motion Program (SMP).

Upon completion at Pendennis, the Caribbean will be Hemisphere’s destination as a luxury charter vessel. Regarding BHGI’s role in facilitating project Hemisphere, Simon Judson, Marine Logistics Manager at Peters and May, Ltd. had this to say: "Bristol Harbor was very professional, detail oriented and responsive. We could not have made our time critical move without them."

For further information on Bristol Harbor Group, Inc., visit their website: www.bristolharborgroup.com.BHGI provides naval architecture, marine engineering and construction oversight services both commercial and recreational. Their commercial work includes small passenger vessels, oil and deck barges, tugboats, split hull hopper vessels and offshore supply boats. Recreational vessel work includes mega yachts as well as powerboats and sailboats. BHGI islocated at 103 Poppasquash Road, Bristol, Rhode Island 02809. BHGI also recently launched a southern affiliate, Bristol Harbor Group South, Inc., www.bhgsouth.com, located at 4747 Bellaire Blvd., Suite 275, Bellaire, Texas 77401 which is focused on owner’s representation and construction oversight services.

Posted: 10NOV09

Bellaire, Texas - 01APR09 -- Bristol Harbor Group, Inc. opens field office in Texas.

Bristol Harbor Group, Inc. of Bristol, Rhode Island has opened a new field office in the Galleria area of Houston, Texas. The new office, located at 4747 Bellaire Blvd., Bellaire, Texas, will allow Bristol Harbor to provide owner's representative and construction oversight services along the Gulf Coast more efficiently. Bristol Harbor has been providing owner's representative and construction oversight services to clients for over ten years, and looks forward to growing Bristol Harbor South, Inc. (BHGS) into a world-class services company focused on Owner's Representation, Project and Program Management, Acquisition Support, Consulting, and traditional Marine Surveying.

Bristol Harbor Group, Inc. will continue to offer full service naval architecture and marine engineering services out of the Rhode Island office, as has been done since 1993. BHGS will simply make it more cost effective for Bristol Harbor's design clients to hire the company to provide construction oversight, both for Bristol Harbor designs as well as for vessels designed by others.

In recent years, Bristol Harbor has provided construction oversight and owner's representation to a variety of clients. Four case examples are included on this webpage to further define Bristol Harbor's potential roles in projects. As noted above, Bristol Harbor can offer such field services for a variety of projects. In some cases, we design the vessels and then oversee construction. In others, we help the client develop a performance specification, advertise the project, select a shipyard, assist in the technical aspects of contract negotiation, and then oversee the construction.

If you have a project that requires on-site representation, please do not hesitate to call Greg Beers of Bristol Harbor at 713.343.8603 to discuss your project and how Bristol Harbor can help.