THE USE OF WATER-SKATES FOR THE MOVEMENT OF HEAVY LOADS

Lifting Services International, a division of Taylor Woodrow, are operating a Water Skate system for handling heavy loads. The Author, of Air Cushion Equipment Ltd (who manufacture the equipment under their Water Skate Trademark), describes the features of the system. Applications mentioned include the movement of ship sections of up to 110 tonnes, and the launching of a deck-cargo barge weighing 1,800 tonnes; the launching was done with 21 water skates which supported the vessel while it was being moved over temporary tracks (of compacted limestone covered with steel sheet) into the sea over a distance of 150 ft from the fabrication site on the beach. A larger skate which has been designed would have a lifting capacity of 900 tonnes and a lift height of 1 foot. This extra height is useful for such tasks as loading long heavy loads on to barges. Water skates can also be advantageously used, in conjunction with cradles, in the preparations for the launching of ships from side slipways, and in the launching and recovering of vessels over temporary slipways consisting of steel sheet laid on a beach. The device would provide a low-cost solution to such problems.

• Corporate Authors:

  Kalerghi Publications

  51 Welbeck Street
  London W1,   England 
• Authors:
  • Latham, A
• Publication Date: 1977-1

Media Info

• Pagination: 2 p.
• Serial:
  • Hovering Craft and Hydrofoil
  • Volume: 16
  • Issue Number: 4
  • Publisher: Kalerghi Publications

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Cargo handling equipment; Heavy lift vessels; Launching; Lifting equipment; Materials management; Ships; Shipyards
• Old TRIS Terms: Heavy lifts; Ship lifts
• Subject Areas: Marine Transportation; Vehicles and Equipment;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00165255
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: British Ship Research Association
• Report/Paper Numbers: Analytic
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Nov 23 1977 12:00AM