During this past week, four specialized lift boats owned by Hercules were delivered to Port Freeport and loaded aboard COSCO's 512-foot semi-submersible vessel, Kang Sheng Kou, destined for Nigeria, Africa.
“This highly technical operation requires skilled labor; generating jobs for all types of professions” said Freeport Launch Vice-President John Hoss.
The semi-submersible vessel was positioned over the Port’s 70’ deep berthing area where it ballasted down sinking the vessel for this operation. While waiting to load the lift boats, Freeport Launch provided services to the lift boats then guided the boats to the sunken semi-submersible vessel for loading.
“Port Freeport is one of a few US ports capable of handling this sophisticated type of operation,” said Port Freeport Port Commission Chairman James F. Brown, Jr. “We like to do this operation because of the economic impact generated for the local economy.”
Port Freeport currently ranks 16th among US ports in international cargo tonnage handled. With a current channel of 45-foot depth, soon to be widened and deepened, just three miles from open Gulf of Mexico waters, Port Freeport offers more than 7,500 acres for future development. Port Freeport serves its customers and stakeholders through development and marketing of competitive world-class navigational capabilities, technically advanced marine and multimodal terminal services and port-related industrial facilities while achieving profits and creating jobs as a leading economic catalyst for the Texas Gulf Coast.
