Glosten’s first iteration of the 300-cubic-yard split-hull hopper barge design was first developed to dredge the Ala Wai Canal in Honolulu, Hawaii. The barge was powered by an accumulator—a zero-emission add-on that in 2001 was very much ahead of its time. At 78 feet long, it comes up just shy of the threshold for a load line, eliminating the need for regulatory oversight.
Pacific Maritime Group was seeking such a barge to maneuver through tight, shallow spaces such as marinas and easily navigate the narrow inland waterways up and down the West Coast where they were dredging. Glosten’s updated barge design was an excellent fit and its size allowed for easy transport by truck or train. After being built at Corn Island Shipyard, the barge made the journey to San Diego via railcar; it was delivered in two halves and pinned together upon arrival at Pacific Maritime.
