September 3 - Crowley Maritime Corp has launched the latest in its series of heavy lift barges at Gunderson Marine Shipyard in Portland, Oregon.

The 400-foot by 105-foot (122m by 32m) heavy lift deck barge - 455-7 - is the fourth heavy lift deck barge christened by Crowley this year and the seventh slated to be built and put into service by 2013.

Crowley's heavy lift 455 series deck barges, with 25-foot (7.6m) side shells, provide the capacity and deck strength needed to accommodate larger drilling and production units used for deepwater offshore energy exploration and development projects. They provide increased deck strength for loads up to 4,200 pounds per square foot.