Big blue crane made in Manitowoc makes its way safely to U.S. Navy shipyard in Maine – Herald Times Reporter

MANITOWOC After a few weeks of slow travel on a barge through the Great Lakes, the St. Lawrence Seaway and into the Atlantic Ocean, Big Blue as the crane built in Manitowoc is known on social media, has made it home.

The $55 million crane arrived at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in Kittery, Maine, near the border of New Hampshire in one piece on Tuesday.

The crane, able to lift140 tons, was manufactured by Konecranes in Manitowoc, and is able to lift twice the weight of current cranes in the Naval yard, though at 195 feet isnt twice as big as those machines.

Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, Kittery, Maine, June 15 2021: A new heavy lift portal crane arrives at the shipyard. As a field activity of NAVSEA, Portsmouth Naval Shipyard is the Navy's center of excellence for fast-attack submarine maintenance, modernization, and repair. Portsmouth Naval Shipyard is committed to maximizing the material readiness of the fleet by safely delivering first time quality, on-budget, and on time. (U.S. Navy photo by Jim Cleveland/Released)(Photo: Jim Cleveland)

Big Blue extends heavy lifting capability to all the dry docks at the shipyard, according to Brendan Goodwin, head of the branch lifting and handling department. It will allow an increase in the scope of submarine overhaul and modernization work done at the site.

Construction of the crane was about a year-long process in Manitowoc and was made possible with the help of a $3.75 million grant from the Wisconsin Department of Transportations Harbor Assistance Program. Improvements allowed Konecranes and Broadwind Heavy Fabrications to assemble, test and transfer the larger cranes. More such contracts are expected to come overthe next decade.

Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, Kittery, Maine, June 15 2021: A new heavy lift portal crane arrives at the shipyard. As a field activity of NAVSEA, Portsmouth Naval Shipyard is the Navy's center of excellence for fast-attack submarine maintenance, modernization, and repair. Portsmouth Naval Shipyard is committed to maximizing the material readiness of the fleet by safely delivering first time quality, on-budget, and on time. (U.S. Navy photo by Jim Cleveland/Released)(Photo: Jim Cleveland)

These harbor improvements provide double benefits, Gov. Tony Evers said in a news release. The grant helped create new highly-skilled jobs in Wisconsin. It also helped contain transportation costs, making future manufacturing contracts even more attractive.

The governor said the grant connects the dots between quality transportation infrastructure, the success of local business and building strong communities.

The crane is part of the Navys multi-billion dollar plan to refurbish four public shipyards with modernized equipment, improved workflow and upgraded dry docks and facilities.

Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, Kittery, Maine, June 15 2021: A new heavy lift portal crane arrives at the shipyard. As a field activity of NAVSEA, Portsmouth Naval Shipyard is the Navy's center of excellence for fast-attack submarine maintenance, modernization, and repair. Portsmouth Naval Shipyard is committed to maximizing the material readiness of the fleet by safely delivering first time quality, on-budget, and on time. (U.S. Navy photo by Jim Cleveland/Released)(Photo: Jim Cleveland)

Global events have placed a great demand on our submarine fleet, Commander of the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard Capt. Daniel Ettlich said in a news release. The new portal crane allows the shipyard to support service life-extension work, which increased the number of submarines available for the Navy during this critical time.

Contact reporter Patti Zarling at 920-606-2586 or send an email to pzarling@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter @PGPattiZarling.

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Big blue crane made in Manitowoc makes its way safely to U.S. Navy shipyard in Maine - Herald Times Reporter