Marine Launching

BATUKAWA BRIDGE EXTENSION – ALSON CHIN MARINE LAUNCHING The marine launching from pier 2 to pier 3 was involving the marine barge. The barge with dimension 120ft (L) X 50ft (W) X 14ft (D) and 2 tug boats provided by KKB. The initial barge come with the 55ton crawler crane attached. The barge was delivering to site on 16th June 2011.

Barge Hui 1201- 120ft (L) X 50ft (W) X 14 ft (D) with 1000 tonne Load capacity.

Warning Signboard on the barge

Tug Boat (Pansy No 1 &Jimihuak)

BATUKAWA BRIDGE EXTENSION – ALSON CHIN

The 2 cranes on barge for marine launching works later drive into the barge company (Multirank Sdn. Bhd) which near by the Batukawa Bridge.

The launching sequence was plan as the diagram shows above. The erection using 2 cranes one sitting on barge while another on ground.

The jointing of girder G2 (15m) and G3 (23.5m) was bolting on the ground and then shifted to the barge for launching works. The cranes hoisted at the both end of the girders after positioning the crane with full outrigger. The cranes moving slowly instructed by the signal man within the safe working radius.

BATUKAWA BRIDGE EXTENSION – ALSON CHIN Prior of any launching works, the splice joints connection must be cleaned by wire brushing to remove rust and grease materials.

Bolting for the splice joints between G2 and G3. The iron guy was wire brushing top plate of the splice joints before jointing.

Wire brushing at the splice joints area and touch up at the I joints area to provide coating.

BATUKAWA BRIDGE EXTENSION – ALSON CHIN STEEL ERECTION PIER 2 TO PIER 3 Launching of pier 2 to pier 3 involved 2 cranes, one located on the ground site and another seat on the barge as the launching platform. The sequence of launch is similar as the land launching. Both cranes sit at both end sites of girders with the working radius within 10m.

Land Side

Marine Side

The steel girder was lifted up slowly to the desired level by both cranes. There was total of 3 cranes on the barge. Both 45tonne mobile crane for lifting work and another 55 tonnes crawler crane as the counterweight for barge during launching.

BATUKAWA BRIDGE EXTENSION – ALSON CHIN These iron guys are waiting for alignment of the holes in the splice plate with the holes of the edge girder. The light passing through the bolt holes provides a measure of the quality of alignment.

On the left is the alignment of the (Kuching side) splice plate and on the right is the alignment of the (Batukawa side) splice plate.

First, the edge girders are aligned; the splice plate is then pinned to the edge girder and then bolted in place. Insert then bolt, washer and DTI in mating position with the help of the drift pin

BATUKAWA BRIDGE EXTENSION – ALSON CHIN to centralise the bolt holes then snug tighten then HSFB until all the bolts was installed. Repeat the same to the top and bottom splice plate then snug tightening.

Final tightening, until the DTI‘s orange silica was expelled out and checked by feeler gauge.

The steel girders erection completed erection for span to pier 3 completed at 18th June, the coming launching works will be fully on rivers. Both cranes on the barge then control by the tug boats.

BATUKAWA BRIDGE EXTENSION – ALSON CHIN MARINE LAUNCHING PIER 3 TO PIER 4 The span of marine launching pier 4 was erected on 19th June after jointing of splice connection on ground.

LAUNCHING SEQUENCE

The crane on land side slowly shifting the girder to the barge.

BATUKAWA BRIDGE EXTENSION – ALSON CHIN

The girders now successfully load to the barge with the help of the crane on ground. Now the girder was hoisted by 2 cranes on the barge. Then the barge was controlled by the tug boat.

BATUKAWA BRIDGE EXTENSION – ALSON CHIN In perspective with the existing bridge, the girder was delivered by the barge in slow motion. The barge drives in between pier 3 and pier 4 and anchor to the pier shaft.

Lift the girders to the desired level, slightly higher then the headstock and watch out of the pot bearing (Fixed) installed. Do not damage it.

Lift over the headstock then placed the girders to line 1 Alignment (nearest to the water pipe)

BATUKAWA BRIDGE EXTENSION – ALSON CHIN As usual the, sequence of bolting and check by DTI after tightening.

Second and third girders up. Iron guys prepared for the splice joint connection bolting.

BATUKAWA BRIDGE EXTENSION – ALSON CHIN Launch of girders Line 2, 3 and 4 in the same sequences

BATUKAWA BRIDGE EXTENSION – ALSON CHIN The precision of the crane operator combined with wind, swells in the water. The hanging suspended girders spiced to the cantilever girder of the intermediate span required skilful iron guys for the jointing. Some tricks from the erector after observed the way they installed. 

The barge is held in place with the spuds if it is in shallow water or by using anchors in deepwater.



When the barge is moving in the current/drifting then they will put the tug behind it to steady it. Most of the time if you are using spuds and they are dragging then you shouldn't make the lift.



As the crane takes the weight of the girder the front of the barge will begin to go down until the girder is completely held by the crane. It is best to position the barge so that a heavy lift like this is done of the front of the barge and you do not have to swing the crane any more then is absolutely necessary. Once the crane has the full weight and the barge is stable then up she goes.