Questions and Responses - Part 2.pdf

Questions and Responses 69727620Q000011

1. Question: Would all welders working on the fab of this barge be required to be AWS Certified welders? Or as along as all welders were supervised by a Certified welder?

Response: All welders must be AWS Certified.

2. Question: What specific ABS Rule are they referring to? Need to know what Rule set. For example, “Rules for Building and Classing Steel Vessels for Service on Rivers and Intercoastal Waterways” is the Rule set we are most familiar with.

Response: Yes, we are asking the vendor to follow these rules.

3. Question: Do they require ABS to review the prints?

Response: No

4. Question: Do they require the barge to be surveyed and ABS Classed?

Response: No

5. Question: ABS Rules require a certain internal structure strength based on design deck bearing load, but the spec does not call out any load capacities. What are the design bearing loads for the deck? For the bottom panel?

Response: Barges are used for personnel access aboard ships along with scaffolding materials to access ships gangways.

6. Question: The spec does call out a structural arrangement but I don’t think it would pass ABS?

Spec calls out “Stiffeners are L4x3x1/4 and 8”x2”x1/4 flange plate”. Do they want any trusses?

Response: Yes, trusses are required where deemed necessary. Specifications are estimates given for identification and general guidance only.

7. Question: Clarify what they mean by “Work is to be conducted in accordance with ABS Rules and applicable barges of this type for the Maritime Administration….” I don’t know what this implies.

Response: We are asking vendor to follow ABS guidelines to ensure that the barge is built to proper standards.

8. Question: They want the inside of the barge painted. Calls out “internals to be sand sweep and spray with epoxy PPG Buff Primer 4 mils dry”. Can we use Biofloat instead? We are not familiar with the sand sweep process and blasting the inside of a barge is very labor intensive and costly.

Response: Biofloat will be an acceptable alternative.

9. Question: They want us to launch and float the barge prior to delivery to ensure it floats level. That adds extra cost and time. We can make that determination within the 3D CAD model of the design and send a report to prove it. Is that acceptable?

Response: Yes, it is acceptable although the barge must float level upon receipt.

10. Question: Note they want anodes mounted to the bottom (underside) of the barge so we need to be careful not to knock them off during handling and shipping of the barge. Are these anodes to be flush mount/recessed into the bottom of the barge? That would add cost and complexity.

Response: No, they are not flush mount/recessed. Side anodes will be acceptable if they are below the waterline.

11. Question: We currently use Bio-Float to coat the interior of our barges. Can you see if they will accept this coating instead of the interior internals to be sand sweep and spray with epoxy PPG Buff Primer?

Response: Biofloat will be an acceptable alternative.