March 4, 2006:
Grace resting at the Navy Yard
Early morning starts early on this Saturday. I talked with Speedy last
night and he thought it would be interesting to watch the removal of
the lower Mammoet beams - so here is the story.
A look a at Grace, resting peacefully at the Navy yard with her lower
Mammoet beam.
Jerome was already working
as were Chris and Speedy
We went over to the Cape May and found Chucky and Manny.
The Capt Gary and Eddie R showed up to help move the barge
Here is Farmer tieing off
Pat and a cup of tea
and where we were - his GPS
On the Eddie R - a cup of coffee with Rip and Art
The real worksite - the end of the main span and the lower Mammoet beam
Chucky and the lift bar
With Manny holding the Mammoet beam in place here are
Chris, Speedy and Nugget (hidden) cutting the brace between the Mammoet
beam and the underside of Grace
Chris and Nugget - Speedy (hidden) cutting and the last view of
Grace with the great Mammoet lower beam
Chris (cutting on the left), Speedy and Nugget
Last cut
Watch Manny lifting the
Mammoet lower beam (4 Mb mpg).
Here Manny starts lifting the beam
Manny rotates the beam
Here, Chucky is directing where to place the great Mammoet beam
Speedy and Nugget uncoupling the lift cables
and the end result - Grace with no lower Mammoet beam
Today, Sparky took the 2nd shift (he and I only work 6 hour shifts - whereas
Testa and Cashman have real endurance - and work 12 hour shifts).
Pat, Farmer, Art and Rip rotate Grace into the Testa orientation.
Watch them perform the rotation
(1 Mb mpg)
A view of Grace in the Testa orientation
Another signature bridge
Bye bye, Grace