Barnhart to Provide Crane Service During Tulsa Port of Catoosa Expansion

MEMPHIS, TN — Shippers who rely on the Tulsa Port of Catoosa, Oklahoma, for crane service will experience no interruption as the Port Authority upgrades its current crane as part of a multi-million dollar renovation thanks to an agreement with Barnhart Crane & Rigging Co. that will put in place a higher-capacity crane at the port for a limited time.

“The timing worked out really well,” said Bob Portiss, Port Director, Tulsa Port of Catoosa. “Barnhart is handling the logistics for components that will be utilized as part of an upgrade to a power plant in eastern Oklahoma. Over a period of several months, those components will be barged up the Mississippi and Arkansas rivers to the Port of Catoosa, where they will be off-loaded by a Barnhart crane for overland transport to the plant. During that period, the crane will be available to our customers who require crane service while we are refurbishing our main dock and making upgrades to our existing overhead crane.”

Barnhart maintains a full service office in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, and has handled projects moving through the Tulsa Port of Catoosa for more than 20 years. The Memphis-based company will locate a Demag CC2600 at the Port’s Low Water Wharf Dock for the duration of its contract with the power plant. The crane is extremely mobile and can be relocated elsewhere within the port, as needed.

“The crane will be in ‘superlift’ mode, which will allow us to lift components of up to 600 tons,” said Bob Possel, Barnhart Project Manager. “We will be off-loading a number of heavy components, including heat recovery steam generators, a steam turbine, steam generator, combustion turbine, combustion generator and several steam drums, all of which will be used to upgrade a power plant to a combined cycle. The largest component we are currently scheduled to lift is the combustion turbine, which weighs approximately 331 tons.”

“This works out well for us, for the Port, and for the Port’s customers. With a few days’ notice, we should be able to accommodate lifts for other Port customers,” said Jeff Latture, Barnhart Senior Vice President. “This will allow the Port Authority to carry out its expansion work and upgrades without any loss of service for shippers who need heavy lift capabilities. Because the crane is mobile, it can be utilized to off-load barges at the Low Water Wharf Dock, load rail cars north of the Main Loading Dock or load over-the-road trucks almost anywhere within the Port.”

Possel noted that Barnhart has local engineers in Oklahoma City who can assist with any custom cargo, especially pieces with odd centers of gravity, adding that the company’s Oklahoma City yard has a full inventory of Barnhart custom rigging tools to meet customers’ needs. Barnhart employees will operate the crane at the Tulsa Port of Catoosa.