Cape Rise Stern Ramp Replacement Project

In October of 2008, North Florida Shipyards successfully completed the task of removing the fixed stern ramp and stern door On MV Cape Rise and replaced these with a new larger ramp that slewed to both port and starboard and a hydraulic operated stern door. This fast paced, first of its class, $4M plus project involved removal of the existing ramp, stern door, all associated equipment, and significant structural modifications and fabrication to support installation of the new ramp and equipment.

NFSY was tasked to complete all structural modifications, fabrication of the newly designed supporting kingpost, electrical, hydraulic piping, and mounting of both the new ramp and stern door.

This monumental project consisted of fabrication and erection of the 90-ton king post onto the newly reinforced and modified support structure.   The king post was a pivotal element of the project in that it provided the path for the single strand slewing cable to lift, deploy, and slew the new ramp.

NFSY additionally mounted the 280-ton stern ramp to the vessel. This mammoth task required significant skill and effort to first assemble the ramp initially shipped in three separate components. After assembly, the main turn table was joined to the vessel to NFSY installed and targeted hinge pins. Maneuvering the stern ramp assemble into place waterborne tasked NFSY capabilities to the maximum in trying synchronize horizontal and vertical movements within a ¼” to install the hinge pins. Once joined together, the task of connecting the extensive cables, wires, and hydraulic lines and equipment began. NFSY worked hand-in-hand with the ramp manufacturer to bring the ramp to an operational condition in support of weight and system testing. In concert with the installation of the ramp, a new hydraulically operated stern door was installed that operated with the newly installed hydraulic and control systems. Coordinated operational and weight testing validated the installation of a ramp with slewing capability both to port and starboard would work and M/V Cape Rise became the first in its class to have this capability.  With final testing completed, and the project declared a success, M/V Cape Rise departed for the return trip to Norfolk, Virginia a more capable vessel than when she arrived thanks to the coordinated efforts of Keystone Shipping, TTS, and North Florida Shipyards.

Click here to view  pictures from this project.