General Use Guidelines

The contractor is required to provide and use hardwood crane mats, measuring 8″ to 12″, when operating cranes, excavators, or any other equipment with steel crawler tracks or rubber tires. Any damage caused to the barges during the project will be repaired at the contractor’s expense. Photos of the damage, along with a repair estimate, will be shared with the contractor for review before the repairs are carried out. The terms and conditions of the contract do allow for the equipment to remain on rent while they are being repaired. Advanced notice of possible damage is always a good idea as if the barges are returned to a remote yard that cannot perform the repairs, then the contractor will be billed for the additional time and freight to relocate to a suitable repair location.

Rolled tops, or “wash boarding”, can occur as a result of not using hardwood mats under equipment. Damaged corners and end/side panels occur when the barge is hit by an excavator bucket or with the push knees of a tugboat in an aggressive manner. After assessment and items like this are found, a cost to replace/repair them are associated with the operation. Once repairs begin, the affected area is cut out along with any affected interior supports and replaced with new materials. The new steel is then steel grit blasted, primed and painted per our process.

It is recommended that as soon as the operator is aware that they have hit and potentially damaged the equipment, that pictures be taken and the date recorded. That is the time to report the damage to the contractors insurance. Then please notify your MES Territory Manager of the damage. It’s always easiest to address these sorts of things prior to the equipment returning.

Rolled tops or wash-boarding occurs because of not using wood mats.

The contractor may weld additional iron, clamps, etc. to secure any equipment on the barges. Poseidon® requires that these items be removed, and remaining fragments ground down as close to the original surface as possible (Less than 3/16” is acceptable)  prior to returning the barge at the end of the rental period. Spray paint the ground area with Red / Brown Rustoleum Paint.

Do not pound on the top of the spud with an excavator bucket as this will damage the spud. Repairs to the spud due to such activity will be charged back to the contractor. Spuds can be raised and lowered by a crane line or by a hydraulic winch. MES offers a range of winch units for rent or for sale. 5/8” Steel cable is tied off on the outside of the spud pocket on the lifting eye, threaded through the sheave at the bottom of the spud and then brought up through the spud pocket and attached to the winch. If you run steel cable from the barge or winch across the body of water you are working on to the shore, bright orange vinyl ribbons should be hung from the cable, making it visible to any watercraft that is operating in the vicinity.

Rental Rates do not include insurance on the barges. A Certificate of Insurance naming Poseidon as “Additional Insured” under your general liability policy, plus listing us as a “Loss Payee” under your equipment floater policy for dual protection against physical damage must be supplied, prior to shipping the barges to your job site. Additional details and requirements are included with our quote and lease agreement.

Adequate training for operating the equipment, transported and used on the barges is the contractor’s responsibility. MES is not liable for any accidents due to operation of equipment on the barges under any circumstances including unsafe weather conditions, such as high winds, thunderstorms, heavy rains, high wake, and icy or heavy snow conditions or any other hazardous weather conditions.  Normal loading, unloading, dredging processes, and high humidity in the air may cause water to pool on all working surfaces on the barges. Care must be taken by equipment operators and workers to ensure the safety of the workers and equipment. Life vests should be always worn when working around the water. In sub-freezing air temperatures, ice can form on the barges and crane mats. It is the contractor’s responsibility to take any and all precautions in safeguarding their employees as well as the general public.

Minimum width necessary to float equipment.  If you are performing dredging work in hard digging conditions, your MES Territory Manager must understand what type of material you are digging in (sand, clay, rock, etc).  The number of spuds needed for a dredge deck can be determined when these digging conditions are discussed. Dredging can require a minimum of 4 spuds and pockets to minimize possible damage to the spuds & pockets. The pulling energy caused by the bucket in hard soil conditions must be discussed to avoid unnecessary damage.  If the contractor observes that the MES equipment is becoming damaged as a result of the excavator being too large for the platform, soil conditions are too hard, or the operator is using the equipment in a careless manner, it is the contractors responsibility to discuss with the MES Territory Manager, the parameters of the project and find an alternative method to complete the project.  The contractor is responsible for all damage to the equipment. A barge platform may be able to safely float your equipment, but difficult and hard digging is something that must be studied to minimize damage to even the best equipment.

MES offers static stability analysis  MES provides static stability analysis for floating crane operations. To ensure accurate recommendations, it’s essential to provide complete and valid information, including the crane’s make and model, boom length, working radius, pick weight, and the weight and type of any additional equipment on the barge. This data allows our team to deliver reliable guidance for safe and efficient operations.

Prior to returning the equipment, all live marine growth and dirt must be cleaned off the barges. Marine growth includes barnacles, bryozoans, mollusks, polychaete and other tube worms, zebra mussels, seaweed, algae & any other dirt or slime on the barge surface. You may have to scrape the barges and steam clean them afterward to kill any remaining material on the barge.  If MES has to re-clean the equipment (pictures prior would be sent to contractor), the cleaning charges will be invoiced back to the contractor.

All ballast water and water accumulated due to condensation must be removed from the barges before lifting them out of the water and loading them on the truck. Water inside the barge can lead to excess weight and uneven lifting, as the barge has a single lifting point at its top center. Additionally, shifting water may cause the barge to move on the truck if the driver brakes suddenly. To remove the water, you can use an air compressor through the water ballast plugs located at the top corners of the barge or pump it out. If needed, you may drill a 1/2” hole on the ends of the barge, about 1/2” from the bottom plate near the ends, to drain the water before shipping. Please inform your MES Territory Manager if this is done so we can inform the proper personnel and plan for the necessary repairs.

Hydraulic Equipment: Daily maintenance and inspections are essential to ensure proper safe operation of your hydraulic systems. Check oil and other fluid levels daily. A key to start the unit can be found on a tether next to the control box, or inside the control box (zip tied shut) when you first receive the unit. Before using, start the engine and let it idle for at least 30 minutes to warm the hydraulic oil. Operating hydraulic equipment with cold hydraulic oil can cause seal failures, leading to potential spills. Our equipment uses 32 and 46-weight Clarity Oil to minimize environmental impact.

Wire rope is available for purchase through MES, but all wire rope must be removed before returning the winch. Additionally, fill the fuel tank and secure the wedges to the drums with duct tape. Failure to remove the wire rope from the drums will result in a chargeback to the contractor.

Tier 4 diesel engines require periodic regeneration (regen) to maintain proper function. During startup or regular use, a message will appear on the screen indicating that a regen is needed. To perform the regeneration, ensure the system is in run mode and apply a load to generate sufficient heat for the process to work. In colder weather, wrap the power unit in a blanket or use cardboard to help the engine reach the necessary temperature.

Do not skip the regen prompt. Ignoring it will eventually cause the hydraulic unit to lock down, requiring a technician to perform a manual regeneration. Any technician service required due to a missed regen will result in charges being billed back to the customer.

Poseidon Sea Bees: Daily maintenance and inspections are essential to ensure safe operation. Oil levels should be checked daily. Start the units and let them idle for 30 to 90 minutes, depending on the air temperature, to allow the hydraulic oil to heat up properly. Inspect umbilical hoses regularly to ensure there are no kinks or leaks.

If the propeller strikes an object in the water, stop the unit immediately and inspect the propeller for damage. Such impacts can break the seal in the hydraulic motor within the prop housing or bend the propeller shaft, or propeller itself. In the event of seal damage, the 8″ steel tube shaft may fill with hydraulic oil. If you notice oil leaking from the top of the steel shaft, shut down the unit immediately and contact MES to arrange for repairs. A damaged propeller will severely reduce the thrust output of the HPU(D) system.

Winch Units and Barge Pusher Units must be secured with four long chokers attached to the eyelets on top of the unit frames and supported by the crane line before the truck driver removes the chains or straps securing the units to the truck. This precaution ensures the units do not shift or fall unexpectedly, preventing potential damage to the equipment or injury to ground personnel. Additionally, the units must remain level while being lifted off the truck.