Ideal Crane Rental, Inc. uses three cranes to rotate hull of research vessel

Madison, Wisconsin-based Ideal Crane Rental, Inc. used three cranes to rotate the hull of The Fisheries Research Vessel, Articus, which will be used for the U.S. Geological Survey.

The cranes involved with the rotation were a 100-ton Grove, 200-ton Liebherr and 350-ton Grove. There were three operators, two oilers and multiple lifting specialists with Ideal Crane Rental supporting the logistics of the lift. This is the third boat hull that Ideal Crane Rental has assisted Burger Boat Company in rotating.

For ease of construction, the hull was built by Burger Boat Company upside down and then needed to be rotated 180 degrees to continue building the remainder of the vessel. The lift started with two cranes on one side and one on the other. After the hull reached a vertical position, the single crane released the load and moved to the other side to reposition between the other cranes. The three cranes then continued the rotation and the vessel was set on its keel. The vessel was braced and released by the three cranes. The hull weighs 136,000 pounds and is 26 feet wide by 78 feet long. The rotation was completed in under four hours.

The Fisheries Research Vessel Articus will replace the existing R/V Grayling and will be a member of a five vessel fleet owned and operated by the U.S. Geological Survey's Great Lakes Science Center in Ann Arbor, Michigan. The primary mission of the Center's fleet is to provide offshore work platforms for the support of fisheries related research projects.

The primary area of operation for the vessel will be Lake Huron and Lake Michigan. The vessel will be based at the Cheboygan Vessel Base and will operate across three state boundaries, Canadian waters and treaty waters. In addition, the vessel may occasionally operate or transit on Lake Superior.