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OUT WITH THE OLD! BIGGE SUCCESSFULLY TRANSPORTS 820 TON NUCLEAR REACTOR VESSEL FROM CONNECTICUT YANKEE TO BARNWELL

SAN LEANDRO, Calif., February 9, 2004- Bigge Power Constructors, a Division of the Bigge Group, successfully completed the door-to-door transportation of an 820 ton nuclear reactor vessel from Connecticut Yankee Nuclear Power Plant to a low-level radwaste (LLRW) site in Barnwell County, South Carolina.  This reactor was the fourth large reactor (500 tons or greater) to be transported to Barnwell for burial.  Bigge has transported two of the four.

Bigge was responsible for loading the vessel on a barge, tie-down of the vessel to the barge, all marine transport operations to an offload point on the Savannah River near Aiken, South Carolina [the Department of Energy Savannah River Site (DOE-SRS)], and 23-mile overland transport through DOR-SRS to a licensed burial facility in Barnwell, South Carolina. Bigge was also responsible for coordination with the US Coast Guard, US DOE –SRS personnel and the US Army Corps of Engineers. 

Bigge designed and installed all required barge upgrades and tie-downs to meet ANSI N14.24 standards.  Additionally, Bigge designed a 120 foot long “Jumper” bridge for use as a barge ramp and for spaning two bridges along the land transport route in South Carolina that could not take the weight of the reactor.

The project schedule required the operations to take place over Christmas and New Years and required Bigge and its subcontractors’ personnel to work through the holiday period to get the job done. 

“I’m proud of the project team for their sense of efficiency and safety” said Jim O’Callaghan, Project Manager for Bigge.  “The guys in the field, our engineering team back in San Leandro, the CY management team, the Savannah River crew and our fabrication suppliers all pulled together to complete this project with flying colors.” 

“This very challenging project was completed ahead of schedule, with no safety incidents or injuries and under extreme weather conditions.  Additionally, when the Department of Homeland Security moved the national terrorist threat level to High Condition (Orange), the project team initiated appropriate contingency plans and proceeded with the work.  This was truly a testament to the teamwork efforts of the Bigge Team and CY” Says Bigge Vice President Thom Bostrom.  

Bigge also prepared a detailed emergency response plan and a mooring plan to meet United States Coast Guard (USCG) and Department of Transportation (DOT) requirements.

The Connecticut Yankee (CY) nuclear power plant, located in Haddam Neck, Connecticut, began commercial operation in 1968 and produced more than 110 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity during its 28-year operating history.  In 1996, the CY Board of Directors voted to permanently close and decommission the power plant.

The Bigge Group is a leading provider of heavy lifting and transportation equipment and project services to the nuclear industry.  Bigge’s project services provide innovative rigging and transportation solutions for industrial, commercial and government applications.  Bigge designs, builds and operates systems for hoisting and transporting heavy lift and over-dimensional items.

CONTACT:
James O’Callaghan
Phone: (510) 638-8100
E-Mail: jocallaghan@bigge.com

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