San Nicolas Island Material Offloading Facility (MOLF)
Delivery Date: 2003
End User: U.S. Navy
Client: Nova Group, Inc.
Bardex Equipment: Two 235 Te Linear Chain Jack Assemblies, Hydraulic Power Unit, & Control System
Location: San Nicolas Island, California, U.S.A.
Pier vs Barge: What’s at stake?
San Nicolas Island is an important site for the Naval Air (NAVAIR) Systems Command’s Weapons Division. Barges that had long been used to bring supplies to the island would routinely be delayed due to unfavorable weather and sea conditions, resulting in disruptions to military testing and training. The barges were also disruptive to the growing populations of seals and sea lions that bred and pupped in the area. The pier significantly reduced both delays and the negative impacts on the marine mammals.
US Navy Portable Pier Systems
Delivery Dates: 1975 to 1978
Produced 16 systems, each containing 4 chain jacks, for the US Navy as part of their rapid deployment strategy.
The portable pier system was conceived for the purpose of handling containerized cargo on undeveloped beachfront. Normal installation time was projected to be 2-3 hours per 90-foot section. In the initial demonstration, a transfer rate of up to 20 boxes of cargo per hour over a 630-foot causeway was reported.
Pier Lifting System
Delivery Date: 1976
Saline water conversion plant in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
A portable pier system consisting of a series of pontoon barges were locked together from the beach to deep water after being elevated on pilings. Hydraulically operated chain jacks powered by a self-contained, diesel-power unit raised the barges up on the pilings, which were located at each corner of the barges.
Construction of the pier system required only a few days at most installations. One installation, measuring 630 feet and consisting of nine pontoon sections, was erected and unloading ships only 66 hours after the pier system was delivered to the site.
Ship-to-truck loading was accomplished by a mobile crane located on the pier head. A turntable at the head of the pier had the capability of rotating semi-trailer trucks 180 degrees for their loaded trip from the pier.
