Heavy Lifters being used at the Baltimore Bridge Collapse Site

The lifting equipment being utilized at the Francis Scott Key Bridge Collapse after being struck by the box ship Dali is impressive indeed. We take an operational look at some of these massive units and discuss the role they play in the salvage effort.

[@kylesmith8769]

I really enjoy getting your reports. It’s facts, it concise, and it’s honest. That Cashman has incredible capacity. Thank you!

[@MinorcanMullet]

Thank you!

[@tedfisk1211]

Who or whatever is coordinating this project knew where to get this heavy equipment and get it to Baltimore right away. The capacities of these cranes are truly amazing, facts that I had no idea of prior to this horrible disaster. Thanks Minorcan Mullet.

[@anthonybernstein9698]

Maybe the crane owners phoned the Baltimore crisis centre.

[@CindyJoGorman-bt9ro]

Good morning Capt! Thank you for showing/sharing info about those Gorgeous machines! Have a Wonderful day ❤

[@MinorcanMullet]

You are so welcome

[@pennynickels5216]

I appreciate your coverage, thanks. The sun is starting to shine at 1:15 pm at my place, a few miles north of the site after the dreary am. Bless the workers.

[@whodom]

Very interesting video on the heavy lifters on site. I thought it was cool to see a Lima 2400 on another video still earning its keep breaking up the submerged concrete. My dad operated 1 yard draglines for much of my life so that Lima seems like a huge machine to me.

[@sherrelhauhe7791]

Amazing to see all the heavy-lifting machinery and equipment being utilized at the bridge site...thanks for sharing something we wouldn't ordinarily see !!

[@lyndseymarieburke1834]

Good Morning Andy😊 love your up to date information on this 👍🏼

[@MinorcanMullet]

Thanks 👍

[@lyndseymarieburke1834]

@@MinorcanMullet you are so welcome

[@KB-gs8zi]

Hey Captain Andy !!! Another great info video & Thanks again for your time to keep the viewers informed about this disaster !! 👍👍👍👍👍

[@ltdees2362]

Absolutely fascinating !! These type reports help me understand the capabilities of these massive machines, moreover their importance in this cleanup effort...Thanks Captain Andy for keeping us informed and the effort putting these videos together is much appreciated 😎

[@toro220d]

I love the information you are sharing with us about the equipment on the FSK site

[@joannford5860]

Awesome footage thanks for sharing as my father years ago had Construction in Alaska with the US Airforce. I have been a part of my fathers world of construction.

[@keithcress1335]

Thanks so much for those spec sheets!! Lots of fun and educational too.

[@blackvelvetchimney]

Greetings I really appreciate how thorough you are on the topic. It’s mind boggling that the chain is the size of a small barrel The crew has to use a heavy lifter just to move the chain into position to make the lift possible. Just massive equipment. I for one am impressed with the Coast Guard and everyone that’s working so hard to get this done. Go U.S.A. !

[@wyomingadventures]

Doing a great job Andy! Very interesting about the equipment.

[@josephvalentjr7677]

Thanks Captain. A all hands on deck report, Of the Massive equipment being used. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[@lowandamusgrove3106]

Thank You Mr.Andy. Stay Safe.

[@thomaslongshore1295]

Thanks for keeping us informed, carry on.

[@targetspecies]

Salute Captain. Thanks for the biographical details on these lifting vessels. Really appreciate them, and your vids on this recovery op. Looking forward to seeing some channels opening soon. Keep up the good work.

[@justsmitty1709]

As always, thank you.

[@MinorcanMullet]

Thanks again!

[@DaveEtchells]

I hadn’t stopped to think about the fact that the Chessie 1000 can’t rotate. (Obvious looking at it, just didn’t think about the consequences.) It must take incredibly precise control by the tugs to position the boom. When you lift a load, you have to raise it _straight_ up so you don’t set it swaying. I’m amazed that the tugs can position the boom with that kind of accuracy, I’d think they need to get it to within just a foot or two of the perfectly-plumb position.

[@DB-thats-me]

Just a little insight here. The tugs get the barge ‘near enough’, and then held loosely. As the strain come on (as little as ten tons) the load pulls the crane perpendicular. Should the load start to roll, or otherwise move, it will continue drag the head of the crane up to the moment it becomes fully suspended. FYI. 👍

[@DaveEtchells]

@@DB-thats-me Aha! Duh, that makes sense! Of course the crane is more free to move than the thing it’s lifting, so no great precision needed. Thanks for the insight!

[@DB-thats-me]

@@DaveEtchells It can be very counterintuitive. I used to drive a floating crane so have a little experience. On my crane, taking the strain was accomplished by luffing the boom back. Some VERY smart naval architect had worked out that luff + heel = vertical movement at the crane head. Once the load was fully suspended, you clutch out luff and clutch in hoist. 👍

[@RayMarr]

Thank you for the details!!!

[@blue198a]

Nice to see and learn about the equipment being used. Thanks for sharing.

[@lxndr3299]

Thank you for your good, informative work.

[@MinorcanMullet]

Glad it was helpful!

[@geraldineaherne9763]

Magnificent machines . All credit to the operators. Thanks Andy. Stay safe and healthy. p

[@klawler4523]

Love the info on the equip.

[@TxsChef]

Just the info I was curious about! Thank you!

[@joefin5900]

Ahoy Captain Andy. You may want to look up "basket derrick". The ironworkers and stone derrickmen used them in NYC years ago.

[@ededmonds8792]

Thanks Captain Andy.

[@miker8915]

Great video, thank you for posting 😀

[@jackbadabing]

Great info and video footage , thank you very much

[@FPivodaII]

Thank you for these videos!

[@MinorcanMullet]

Thank you for watching and being a part of the Minorcan Navy!

[@durgan5668]

Thanks, I've been focused on the clamshell on the Dale Pyatt as well as the tamper than works alongside it. They've filled barges full of scrap. True workhorses.

[@waynebranson3059]

excellent content today as always. thank you for sharing this information today!!!

[@MinorcanMullet]

My pleasure!

[@roncashion695]

Just to say, all the sites and news outlets never cover what would be interested in. You Sir provide info I cannot get anywhere. Please keep on keeping on

[@stevejette2329]

The FEMA ICS - 700 is a free online introductory course about how the organization works during a major disaster like this. The ICS (Incident Command System) was developed after a huge L.A. fire. All of the organizations, fire, police, finance, EMT, etc were using different radio frequencies, different codes, different protocols.

[@randallbruursema7553]

thanks for the great update

[@MinorcanMullet]

You bet

[@TYGER2925]

👍👍 Two thumbs up Andy

[@MinorcanMullet]

Thanks Tyger

[@coypatton3160]

Seems strange to me that the 2 cranes are so old (built in 72 and 66). I am sure there have been numerous retrofits over the 52 and 68 years. And the dredge is the newest shown is 11 years old. All working hard and well.

[@robertbradford7892]

Excellent video really enjoy your work.

[@MinorcanMullet]

Thank you very much! Great to have you aboard!

[@ItsLookingUp]

Those are some amazing machines!

[@MinorcanMullet]

I think so too!

[@richardhartzell7059]

Capt. Andy -- Great to see your summary of all the various barge cranes on site . Impressive ! ----- Question: do any of your fellow marine operators have insight as to why the biggest STIFF LEG DERRICK crane -- New Jersey's Left Coast Lifter -- is not yet moblized for the Baltimore job ? The specs for that crane are on the Heavy Surplus Left Coast Lifter website.

[@JoeLinux2000]

Extremely informative video with great pictures, presented by a guy who had done the research, and knows what he's talking about. I think a large dump truck is rated at 12 cubic yards. The ones that are a bit smaller are 10 cu. yards. I don't know the capacity of the large and longer trailer dump trucks that are dump their load off to the side. The red clam shell bucket that is cable operated allegedly has a capacity of 5 large in the city dump trucks. The larger hydraulically operated clam shell must have a rated capacity around double of the one shown today. My guess is that these buckets only reach their rated capacity with ideal type of material such as dry soft clay soil. A lot depends on how good a grip they can get on the material which has to be soft enough to dig down into. A steel beamed mangled truss bridge is hardly ideal material to be moving. These large buckets are going to be useful mostly because of their massive weight. and of course the hydraulic one must have enormous jaw clamping power.

[@delbroncarter5121]

Great Work. One Section At A Time! Stay Safe.

[@MinorcanMullet]

Thanks, you too!

[@billyhouse1943]

Thank you..

[@MinorcanMullet]

Your welcome!

[@joetownsend-]

Captain Andy, Thank You for sharing all these videos and details from Baltimore. Do you have limits to how close you can get the Minorcan Mullet to the work area like the Golden Ray Rules were? You are bringing the World Valuable information of this tragedy!

[@78jog89]

Allow me to compliment you on the content and quality of you vids. Thanks for posting.

[@MinorcanMullet]

I appreciate that!

[@michaelcomer6491]

Thanks for the great videos…you are very knowledgeable about marine construction…however, just for clarification a typical triaxle dump truck has a capacity of 17 to 25 cubic yards depending on the dump body dimensions. So the 60 CY clamshell you referred to would hold say 2.5 to 4 dump truck loads…

[@MinorcanMullet]

That's a big dump truck! Last load I bought was in a 10 yard truck. It only had 2 rear axles

[@stevegroseclose4004]

the pictures of people next to the equipment helps to understand the sizes

[@user-di4kv9yk3g]

really appreciate your efforts on the videos Captain Andy, here in the UK, i am so glad that i can follow the ongoing efforts without things being turned into a massive media show - things need to be recorded without all the dramatics as they happen to give all us folk a way better understanding especially as i followed your efforts during the Golden Ray recovery - i was wondering again, and i guess every vessel has its own fire fighting capability, is the Dali still producing power, can she be effective in case fire breaks out or would the crew and all other participants in the recover need to reply on land base services getting to the scene too late to be effective, also applies to any shore based fire boat - its something i consider time and time again, a bit like when events are held here in the UK, they have to have a degree of health responders and or fire fighting services on scene to be more effective we all remember the Golden Ray, which then with all that was going on had insufficient equipment to be dealing with what was simply a very dangerous and precarious situation waiting to get out of control - i know from videos that hazardous materials were addressed, here normally being loaded at the front of the vessel, i think images of soap like substances were seen leaking, so the scene is less likely to catch fire, but with all that's going on, it just takes one spark to create an accident, ship fires are not a good thing to happen

[@MinorcanMullet]

I have noticed exhaust aboard the ship, so power seems to be restored for the crew to operate systems.

[@nancywolfe4177]

Good morning Andy😊 from thr little Ole lady from PA

[@MinorcanMullet]

Good morning!!

[@kenring9181]

I would like to see information on more of the equipment used.

[@archie509]

Keep the videos coming the news agencies around this country kind of dropped off the Clift with this information😊

[@michaelmiller7208]

I appreciate your coverage. Wish you were live even more but thanks. Is the crew of the Dali still aboard?? I understand they are. Tks

[@pappabob29]

I would assume that 60 yard bucket you talked about is the one you showed us yesterday with the guy standing in the "throat" ??? Have always been fascinated by watching large equipment operate !!! As a youth, whenever anything was going on in my realm, I was there watching !!! Thanks for providing this content !!!

[@MinorcanMullet]

The 60yard capacity I referenced was on the Dale Pyatt. The Cushman dredge.

[@pappabob29]

@@MinorcanMullet Thank you. So, If the 50 yard is NOT the gigantic one you showed yesterday, what is the capacity of that one ??? Is that "red" one you showed today the same/larger/smaller than the one you showed yesterday ???

[@blockstacker5614]

@@pappabob29 the one yesterday was a claw, not a bucket.

[@pappabob29]

@@blockstacker5614 Ah yes !! Very simple difference not even noticed by the "un-educated" ----------- but learning !! Thank you !!

[@blockstacker5614]

@@pappabob29 I think they do both function in basically the same way, so you aren't entirely wrong, just one is like a shovel and the other is more like a rake if that makes sense.

[@stevec8104]

Its a shame that America has this strange flag law that says all equipment must be American flagged only, over here in Europe there are many heavy lifting companies that have far more lifting capacity, one such company is HEEREMA, one of their lift barges has two 360 degree rotating cranes on it, each one has a lifting capacity of 10,000 tons and together they have in fact lifted just over 15,000 tons on a PAIR lift. There are many other pieces of lift equipment here that are in the 4,5, and 6 thousand ton range also. I am sure this sort of equipment would greatly increase the speed and efficiency of such a task and as a result possibly mean less time in dangerous situations for all workers but especially the DIVERS as there would possibly be less cutting needed under water, after saying all that they are all doing a fantastic job out there. Also thank you for your coverage of what is happening.

[@sartec5813]

Well done, Capt! You referred to the Chessy 1000 which doesn't swing and the Weeks which has "rotational" capabilities. I think the proper term is "slew' -- the ability to rotate horizontally around a central axis. At this point, I'm sure some of your viewers want me to slew off. /S

[@MinorcanMullet]

Thanks for the info!

[@marcellebaudry5786]

merci cool

[@randyb1890]

You need to cover the huge clamshell they just brought in a few days ago. Has to be 4 times the Dale Pyatt.

[@629Justme]

Thanx for the clear anology using dumptruck as capacity that the dredge can grab. Could you use the sizes of containers to get an idea as to hoe large those.girders that are being removed are? Never rode across the bridge so its hard to "size" it. If you would express the size of the girders in number if containers placed end to end, we could all get an better idea of how massive the job really is. Idea?

[@SeymourBalz]

They keep talking about raising the Kursk. (Russian sub). That video is here on KZbin. The Kursk was raised using Strand Jack's. Watch the video.

[@irondarknessdarkness8900]

i Believe it is called properly a Sea Leg but i might be wrong. Most of the super lifters are of the Sea Leg type.

[@Wextopher]

Baltimore has some experience unloading containers from the grounding of the Ever Forward in 2022. I'm sure that this has been useful in this current incident.

[@jimmyscutts8082]

Only the Dutch know how to clear massive weights like this fast with their world class cranes and barges.

[@michaelgivens8513]

Hey Captain Andy, just wondering about your thoughts on using the "versa barge " with the new grapple on the bridge?

[@MinorcanMullet]

I think it would be a challenge as the verabar cannot rotate. Every lift would mean a barge would need to be positioned under the grapple to release the debris.

[@bones3826]

When they do the dredging, where do they dump the spoils out in the middle of the ocean? Just asking.

[@dlc2112dlc]

We have to keep the bridge parked on top until the new bridge is rebuilt.

[@errolorticke5573]

Howard Hughes was contracted by the CIA to develop and construct this equipment originally.

[@charlestoast4051]

Smit Tak, in Rotterdam, have much higher capacity floating cranes, capable of lifting several thousand tonnes. Were they not available?

[@Skidderoperator]

I bet the value of the ship and the cargo combined wouldn't even pay for the clean up.

[@davidrohder7897]

Are the work crews working 24 X 7 or 8 X 5 hour days . Looks extremely dangerous . Hope that everyone stays safe .

[@elizabethbrassfield6418]

Question, why are the containers still on the boat.? Very interesting about equipment

[@BlueWaves975]

I would be willing to bet it is so that the Dali remains stable. The more it weighs the less it is likely to shift and move, especially that that portion of the bridge might drive the bow further into the mud if there wasn't so much weight on the rest of the ship. I know that all those containers make it act like a sail, but there's got to be a benefit to leaving them on, so I'm guessing stability is that benefit.

[@donnaromaniello-uv9hd]

I know they found 4 of the 6 that were missing, but did they find the other 2 yet? Does anyone know.

[@darylreimer2161]

How long did it take for this equipment to get on site, where did they come from?

[@MinorcanMullet]

Different locations but all was on the East Coast.

[@anthonybernstein9698]

I thought all ships were insured with Lloyds of London. Motorists have insurance, airlines have insurance, I have insurance. Everybody has insurance.

[@philiphorner31]

Maryland built a mouse trap bridge. It finally caught one.

[@Greatdome99]

The damages are so astronomical, the defendants will simply declare bankruptcy. Happens all the time.

[@intheknow7659]

Should be a lawsuit by the families on the city or whichever entity for not building out the proper protection systems around the pillars of that bridge.

[@darylreimer2161]

What are the pillars on the clam shell barge?

[@MinorcanMullet]

Spuds. That is the anchoring system for the barge

[@williamkellerchipdrill]

Cool deal cap all those outfits are top notch and there are numerous other rigs there too some of seaward marines some mcclean rigs and numerous others thanks again

[@kevintaylor4913]

What was the total expense to clear MV Golden Ray? What is the hour rate for these cranes in Baltimore?

[@MinorcanMullet]

The total cost has never been released, but I have heard 800M -1.3B. It was the most costly shipwreck in U. S. history. Until now.

[@Guido_Sarducci007]

Lawsuit- what world court would they file this in, I wonder? and how far out do we put the decimal point? Thank you for another update along with the equipment specs!

[@roberthetrick3530]

😊I agree these are large cranes ,but are nothing In comparison to the Dutch owned Hereema barge equipped with two 15000toncranes which picked 33 million pound drilling platform and put in in place on pylons.

[@MinorcanMullet]

The Jones Act would probably preclude any foreign flagged vessels from participating in the operation

[@robertab929]

Chesapeake 907, because it can lift 907 metric tons.

[@ScottOlesky]

Any word on the 2 construction workers that gave their lives? Seems like everyone has forgotten. Am I wrong?

[@MinorcanMullet]

Still haven't been recovered

[@chipwilliams1640]

Where has the 533 gone?

[@MinorcanMullet]

Back over by the coal yard. We've seen it over there before too.

[@Skidderoperator]

Its still GLOMAR explorer.

[@michaeltaylor8835]

Clear up happens quickly when people are losing money

[@claytonhamilton4889]

Well I think something else is going on with what happen there because I can't understand why the whole bridge coming down like it did that should not have happened because of the bote hitting the bridge I can see one part of it coming down but not the whole thing like it did

[@wyomingadventures]

Other bridges have done the same thing.

[@dallasrieck7753]

"we're goin to talk about..." you got a mouse in your pocket?😉

[@MinorcanMullet]

Mouse? More like Mice! I always want to include the Minorcan Navy!

[@user-hf3do3vu1j]

Lots of assets but no mivement

[@jacks5kids]

Once again, he is describing these fantastic machines and none of them are presently in use. All are unloaded and static. It's odd how little action we can see in this video given that the Governor keeps talking about how intense the operation is. As usual, absolutely nothing is happening.

[@RWBHere]

C. 6:50 - For those of us who don't understand American terminology, what is a 60 yard capacity? Is it a length, a width, a volume, a mass, or something else? Thanks.

[@williamlloyd3769]

1 square yard = 0.836 square meter

[@randyadams958]

The bucket's volumetric capacity is 60 cubic yards, which is about 46 cubic meters.

[@bunkstagner298]

how much a day does all this cost in total? Who is paying for it? I would bet tax payers are instead of the people who caused this disaster.

[@DaveEtchells]

It’ll take years to sort out the court cases to get the money.

[@billr1129]

@@DaveEtchells the lawyers will definitely get their $$

[@williamlloyd3769]

We will all be educated on maritime law and liability by the time this incident is resolved.

[@janetphillips2875]

Better our money go for this than for studying shrimp running on a treadmill. Or to get Zelenski new green khaki.

[@mkunes2502]

The shipping company will pay a maximum of about 250k, for the damage. You see, republicans don’t like “regulations”. Well, paying for the damage you do is a REGULATION, that is only law in California. So, thank you to the republicans, who also manage to find their way OUT of paying for the stupidity, their policies create. They are what is wrong with America.

[@markmeece6396]

Insurance? Of course! WTF!

[@QueryOften-zg7tv]

The capacity of these so called heavy lift cranes is equal to a child lifting food from a bowl using chopsticks. They lift 500 tons and call it a major achievement. The offshore oil n gas industry has crane barges lifting full sized offshore platforms say 8,000 tonnes at one go. Why not engage one or is it impossible to sail up to Baltimore from New Orleans? Texas? Too expensive? Too far? In one session the route can be cleared, putting the economy back on track. Saipem, Samsung, Hereema, McDermott … contact them.

[@MinorcanMullet]

The last heavy lift vessel I tracked from the Gulf took a month to reach Georgia on the East Coast.

[@QueryOften-zg7tv]

@@MinorcanMullet seems like 2 to 3 months will pass for this Creek crane to pick up tiny morsels at a time. See the overall economic impact. Don’t be parochial, look at national interest.

[@charlesking7331]

The ship captain appears to be on drugs. Look at a damage caused to the entire world by one person.

[@viktorhemmings2499]

Trochę tam pizdzi...😮😮😮😮

[@KermitFrazierdotcom]

I can just imagine the Reaction in Langley every time Glomar Explorer is mentioned.

[@jasonswift7098]

Box ship? no such thing.

[@MinorcanMullet]

You may know it as an intermodal shipping vessel. Carry on.

[@jasonswift7098]

@@MinorcanMullet Its called a container ship ok, not box ship.

[@josephdeakyne197]

Opinion iron workers make. 60 + beinnys Mick y d workers make 25 HR + Jenny's iron risk there lives MD worms put ketchup on a bun with a smile