Sea Launch Commander Lands At Cascade General

The Sea Launch Commander is one of the most high-tech, civilian ships in the world - its mission is to launch communication satellites using Russian-built rockets. Considering the intricacies inherent to rocket launching, the ship needs to remain on-station with pinpoint accuracy and is equipped with a dynamic positioning system driving a retractable Kamewa azimuth thruster. In late May, Barber / Kvaerner Marine Management, sent the ship to Cascade General's Portland Shipyard for a six-day drydocking for maintenance to the thruster.

Upon arrival at the shipyard, the Liberian-flagged ship was lifted in Cascade General's 982-foot Dry Dock 4. To allow access to the retractable thruster, the ship was blocked up at a height of 12'. The CP-propeller and rudder were inspected in accordance with Det Norske Veritas (DNV) standards, while Kamewa technicians lowered the thruster, gained access to the drive unit and restored it to full efficiency. Meanwhile, Cascade General crews were busy exchanging sea valves, touch-up blasting and coating the hull and working on rudder and stern tube clearances.

The 656 foot, 50,000 GWT ship was built in the Kvaerner Govan shipyard in Scotland in 1997 specifically to accommodate the three-stage rocket carried on a railcar below decks. At the firing zone on the Equator, the rocket is rolled across the ship's articulated stern ramp onto the accompanying launching-platform vessel, where it is lifted to vertical by a gantry. The first test launching has already been successfully completed.

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Cascade General operates Portland Shipyard, the largest and most complete ship repair and industrial facility on the West Coast of the United States. We provide full-service repairs and conversions for tankers, cruise ships, bulk carriers, container ships, government vessels, tugs, barges and workboats. Cascade General's Portland facility includes a 60-acre (24.2 ha) yard, 550,000 square feet (51,096 square meters) of craft shops, more than 7,600 ft. (2,326 meters) of full-service repair berths, and two floating dry docks.