Hello to all gCaptain members. Writing from UNESCO’s first World Heritage site: Galápagos!
For more than 10 years we’ve been using a barge called “El Morro” (check it out here, 42m length, 300 GT) as a cargo ship to transport construction materials from Ecuadorian mainland to the Galapagos Islands. Surely, it isn’t the brightest option since barges shouldn’t operate at sea, but there are only a couple more options so this barge has been really helpful over time considering all things over here are brought from mainland. So, Government may overhaul it to keep it doing maritime transportation for another 10 years, max.
We were quoted by a public-owned shipyard for about US$ 4 million to basically re-build the whole thing. Authorities in Government think that’s too much (for an old ship that carries construction materials), and that a double bottom isn’t necessary since it isn’t a tanker (??). I think we can buy a proper ship with that money and save many people a lot a trouble.
Hipothetically, would you agree to spend on this barge given the needs?
What are the risks and implications?
What protocols, conventions, standards or laws require double hulls for this sort of transportation?
if you have funds for a ship buy one…the Galapagos is too far from the mainland of Equador for a self propelled 42m barge to cross plus $4M to build a new one is outrageous!
have you tried to solicit for a vessel to be donated to your organization?
[QUOTE=PabloDD;152328]Hello to all gCaptain members. Writing from UNESCO’s first World Heritage site: Galápagos!
For more than 10 years we’ve been using a barge called “El Morro” (check it out here, 42m length, 300 GT) as a cargo ship to transport construction materials from Ecuadorian mainland to the Galapagos Islands. Surely, it isn’t the brightest option since barges shouldn’t operate at sea, but there are only a couple more options so this barge has been really helpful over time considering all things over here are brought from mainland. So, Government may overhaul it to keep it doing maritime transportation for another 10 years, max.
We were quoted by a public-owned shipyard for about US$ 4 million to basically re-build the whole thing. Authorities in Government think that’s too much (for an old ship that carries construction materials), and that a double bottom isn’t necessary since it isn’t a tanker (??). I think we can buy a proper ship with that money and save many people a lot a trouble.
Hipothetically, would you agree to spend on this barge given the needs?
What are the risks and implications?
What protocols, conventions, standards or laws require double hulls for this sort of transportation?
Any comments are greatly appreciated.[/QUOTE]
I suggest that you contact Coastal Transportation in Seattle, Washington USA. I understand that they are selling, or have sold, some of their older ships that are still in good condition.
You could build a new barge of that size for much less than $4 million.
It looks like the ideal vessel for the application. I wouldn’t even think about a coastal freighter style ship. If the El Morro is at the end of its economical life I would consider a like replacement.
[QUOTE=c.captain;152341]if you have funds for a ship buy one…the Galapagos is too far from the mainland of Equador for a self propelled 42m barge to cross plus $4M to build a new one is outrageous!
have you tried to solicit for a vessel to be donated to your organization?[/QUOTE]
Most of the estimated cost concentrates on the double bottom which practically means building another vessel, so we were thinking about keeping it single bottom but we need to support that decision with technical standards. The thing is that if it isn’t safe enough we won’t be able to get insurance for the vessel or the load.
We haven’t tried to solicit for a donation. Do you know about a case or organization that could be helpful?