POWERGRAMS

After months of detailed planning, the Plant Gorgas baghouse project is progressing through 21 periodic barge shipments of major structural components along the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway and the Black Warrior River. "The plant's location on a river enables us to use a 'lean construction' model to outsource the prefabrication of baghouse and ductwork modules," said Chad Kendrick, Gorgas construction manager. "River barges can carry larger loads than tractor-trailer trucks or trains, requiring fewer trips between the production and plant sites." Prefabrication requires less on-site construction, speeds assembly time and decreases safety risks by reducing time spent on welding, Kendrick said. Using the rivers for transport was the result of brainstorming by the Engineering and Construction Services baghouse design team. The E&CS team worked with Burkhalter, a heavy-haul contractor, and PSP Industries, the Iuka, Miss., company prefabricating the components, to optimize barge-space planning and deliver the components on time in the fewest number of trips. After many iterations of space planning on the 250-foot by 54-foot barge, the team achieved its goal. All eight barges carrying baghouse components have been unloaded and erection of the baghouse is well underway. The first shipments arrived on two barges, named Madelaine D and Jean M. They were pulled by "Big Eddie," a tugboat with a telescoping pilothouse, which gave the crew a 360-degree view over the tall components. Without the telescoping pilothouse, two tugboats would have been needed for the river transit. It takes four to five days for the barges to travel from Iuka to Oliver Lock in Tuscaloosa, then up the Black Warrior River to Plant Gorgas. The barge crews operate around the clock, barring mechanical problems or fog. Plant Gorgas began receiving the first of 13 barges carrying pre-insulated ductwork in March. Rodney Morgan, construction discipline lead and key player in the planning coordination, has been gratified to see the hard work pay off, as components are carefully unloaded from the barges and moved to the staging site. "The team worked well together and continually looked for ways to improve even the smallest details," Morgan said. Barges are docked and unloaded one at a time on arrival at Plant Gorgas. After the first barge is docked, two multiwheeled vehicles speed the unloading process. The "Goldhofer" low-bed trailers have individual steering swivel wheels, auto- adjusting levelers and hydraulic axle suspension. The vehicles use a road specifically prepared for equipment transport, with precise measurements ensuring each piece of equipment has sufficient clearance. "The arrival and offload of the first barges of baghouse components was a culmination of dedicated team planning and attention to detail," said Jackie Blakley, project manager. "I could not be prouder to be a member of this team. Not only are we focused on delivering a quality product, but we are doing so with Southern Style." By Jo Alice Driggers Rollin' On The River ENViRONmENTAl bARGEs bRiNG bAGhOusE COmpONENTs TO pl ANT GORGAs PAG E 5 5 Massive steel structures roll off barge for ride into Plant Gorgas. Tugboat pushes components up Black Warrior River. Photos by wynter byrd

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