There were three sub-contracts that were let by Sun Ship to other shipbuilders as Sun was getting out of the new ship construction business (1979/1980). These included the following Sun Ship Hulls; 1) Contract for Sun Ship Hull 681-let to Bath Iron Works on 9/13/1980 and became the Army Corps of Engineers Dredge 'Essayons', 2) Contract for Sun Ship Hull 682-let to General Dynamics-Quincy, MA on 6/28/1979 and became the 'Charles Carroll' (renamed 'Maj.Stephen Pless') and 3) Contract for Sun Ship Hull 683- let to Bath Iron Works on 11/14/1979 and became the Sugar Barge 'HSTC-1. Following is information on the Sugar Barge 'HSTC-1'.
We are grateful to Rich Janney (59 Dept) who contributed the following photographs to our archives, as well as his 5-page documentary titled 'The Last Years of Sun Ship'. You can view this by going to the 'Share the Memories' icon on the 'Welcome to Sun Ship's Selection Page' and then clicking on the icon for Rich's 'The Last Years of Sun Ship'.
Here is Our 'Sun 800' crane up at Bath Iron Works, placing the last unit to be erected on the Sugar Barge. Please read Rich's description of the lift in the aforementioned documentary.
Note 1: The 'Sun 800' floating crane was built specifically for lifting the inner and outer Gimbal platform on to the "Hughes Glomar Explorer" (Hull 661), a lift of approximately 755 tons. Very close to the crane's maximum capacity of 800 tons.
Note 2: The 'Sun 800' is still in service as DonJon Marine's 'Chesapeake 1000'.
'Sun 800' lifting the Gimbal platform c: 1973
Picture courtesy of: SSHS #706.7305.01
Photo courtesy of: Rich Janney #500.683.01.003
Bow view of the port-forward quarter of the 'HSTC-1 on launching day.
Photo courtesy of Rich Janney #500.683.01.005
View of the 'HSTC-1 on launching day.
Photo courtesy of Rich Janney #500.683.01.004
View of the 'HSTC-1 coming to Philadelphia for completion.
Photo courtesy of Rich Janney #500.683.01.001
The following pictures were 'screenshot' from a video by Zebadiah Strout, titled "Moku Pahu" a documentary of his trip to Bangladesh in 2013 delivering 'food aid' consisting American grain. We are grateful of the many views of the 'HSTC-1'. Please take the opportunity to view the video, as it shows the concept of the 'Intergreated-Tug-Barge' configuration. Our thanks to Jack Durant (59D) who located the video on one of his many searches of the internet! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QmLpR6plUNM
Here is a stern-view of the tug 'Moku Pahu' with the Sugar Barge 'HSTC-1' at San Francisco, CA. You may have to look carefully to see the 'division' between the tug and barge.
Courtesy of the video 'Moku Pahu' SSHS#500.683.02.004
This is a view from the tug 'Moku Pahu' looking forward and showing the deck and hatches of the Sugar Barge 'HSTC-1 her way to Portland, OR to pick up the grain..
Courtesy of the video 'Moku Pahu' SSHS#500.68302.010
Grain being loaded onboard the 'HSTC-1 at Portland, OR
Courtesy of the video 'Moku Pahu' SSHS#500.683.02.012
Grain being off-loaded at Bangladesh
Courtesy of the video 'Moku Pahu' SSHS#500.683.02.018
Great starboard view of the tug 'Moku Pahu' coupled with the stern of the 'HSTC-1' at Bangladesh
Courtesy of the video 'Moku Pahu' SSHS#500.683.02.019a
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