June 23 - Bucharest-based Ess & Etamad Group Sea & Land Transport has successfully managed the cross trade transport of a 3240 tonne sheer leg crane barge from Busan in Korea to Bandar Abass in Iran on behalf of Tidewater Middle East.

The crane barge was loaded onto the Dockwise ship, MV Teal with Etamad's superintendent, Captain Alfred Arsene, having overall responsibility for managing the delicate loading operation.

Two tugs were used to transport the crane barge to the MV Teal and Captain Arsene said that, "very strong currents in the port of loading complicated the arrangement of the lifting slings under water at the correct positions." Four divers were deployed to assist.

Four pad eyes had to be welded onto the main deck of the MV Teal, each resistant to a minimum force of 8 tonnes.

Following a 22 day voyage one of the largest floating cranes in the Middle East entered Iranian waters and was discharged in Kish Island. "Tidewater purchased the floating crane from the South Korean company - SALKO - in order to help a salvage project in which sunken ships in Khor-e-Musa will be removed," said Behzad Atabaki-the CEO of Tidewater Middle East.