It’s a First! Lightweight, Portable Aluminum Gantry Cranes from eme Used to Launch and Retrieve Mini-Subs in Canadian Arctic

Easily Moved Equipment supplied custom designed and built lightweight, portable aluminum gantry cranes to the Canadian Government (Department of National Defense) to launch and retrieve unmanned submarines used for scientific research in Canada's western Arctic region.

(PRWEB) August 13, 2011

The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) governs the delineation of the continental shelf where it extends beyond the 200-nautical-mile exclusive economic zone. Canada has until 2013 to present a submission to the Commission. Part of the scientific work to establish the maximum extent of Canada’s continental shelf involves the use of unmanned submarines that are used during the Arctic winters from ice covered bays or ice islands ““ these submarines need to be lowered and raised without damage.

Easily Moved Equipment’s lightweight-and-portable aluminum Gantry Cranes provided the solution. The all-aluminum construction of these Gantry Cranes, including the proprietary Box Beam and Locking “Surround-Beam” Trolley, made it a simple matter. The lightweight equipment was easily compacted so that it could be air freighted to the remote site in the western Arctic, and, in the tight confines of the tent, the two Gantry Cranes with their 70-lb., 14-ft. Box Beams were easily assembled and ready to work. In order to position the subs precisely over the openings in the ice, the Cranes were fitted with manual winches to allow the Operators to work without fear of damage to the subs or their instruments. Electric chain hoists, used to raise and lower the subs, were supplied by eme and were run from portable generators due to the remote location of the work site.

The eme Gantry Cranes worked perfectly during the cold Arctic winter moving the subs from their cradles to over the hole in the ice, holding them in perfect alignment to the hole, launching and retrieving them as required and returning them to their cradles. During the Arctic summer the Gantry Cranes can be used for other lifting duties and can be moved easily to a new location in the winter, should the need arise.

eme has been involved with the Canadian Government and the Department of National Defense on two occasions regarding this important project. In both cases eme’s Gantry Cranes have performed their assigned tasks flawlessly. Although, weighing only 375 lbs, including the electric winch, each Gantry can handle loads of up to 5500 lbs.

When the project is over, these Gantry Cranes will find other applications at Government locations in the Canadian Arctic.

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