NML 100

Deck Barge

In 2011, Bristol Harbor Group, Inc. was contracted by Northern Maritime Logistics, LLC of Anchorage, Alaska, for the design of both a towboat and the bow ramp for a new USCG inspected deck barge. Both vessels are in service on the North Slope of Alaska, servicing Nikaitchuq Island in support of oil field development. The vessels have a limited specific-service route from Point Oliktok to Nikaitchuq offshore drilling island, which is approximately three miles to the north-northwest of Point Oliktok and South of Spy Island. Both vessels were conceived and built in less than four months during the 2nd and 3rd quarters of 2011. OLD BULL and NML 100 were designed, fabricated, transported to the north slope, launched and commissioned during this very short time frame, which is a testament to the designers, builders and logistics providers involved.

NML 100 is a 100’ x 45’ x 7’ steel unmanned barge, fabricated at Eagle Fabrication, LLC, Sauget, Illinois and erected in Deadhorse, Alaska. Modules that could be shipped over the road were fabricated in Illinois, trucked to Alaska, and then welded together in Alaska. Then the complete barge was moved 60 miles over land and launched into the Beaufort Sea from an ice road. A canal was cut in seven foot sea ice to float the barge. NML 100 is fitted with a bow ramp powered by a modular diesel fuled HPU with integral fuel tank mounted above-deck in a watertight locker. The bow ramp allows for operations from unimproved beaches. It only transports cargo on the deck and does not contain any internal tanks or cargo spaces.