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Just nine months after opening its new robotic paint and sandblasting facility, C&C Marine and Repair has announced the completion of sandblasting its 100th barge.

“We knew we could clean and paint barges quickly and efficiently, but what we have accomplished in these first nine months has exceeded our expectations in both speed and quality of cleaning,” said Tony Sibilich, owner of C&C Marine and Repair. The 83,350 square foot facility can accommodate barges up to 320’ x 75’ and is capable of blasting and painting a standard 30,000 barrel tank barge or two (2) 10,000 barrel tank barges in 7-10 days.

The fully enclosed, climate-controlled facility is protected from the elements and can operate 24 hours a day, year-round.

“We understand that taking a barge out of service for shot blasting and painting can result in a loss of revenue for our customers, so it is important that we paint these barges quickly,” said Mike Wade, shot blasting manager.

Thanks to the speed and efficiency of the fully automated robotic blasting system, the blasting time for two standard inland hopper barges was just 36 hours. “The benefits of blasting and painting in a controlled environment indoors are huge because you’re not exposed to the elements and moisture,” says Wade. Reusable steel abrasives provide a cleaner blasting result than disposable media like blackbeauty. This results in a superior surface profile that facilitates paint adhesion and bonding. A superior profile finish and better paint adhesion to the steel ultimately reduces the amount of painting required over the life of the barge.

To date, C&C Marine and Repair has sandblasted and painted various types of barges such as bilge barges, deck barges, and tank barges in the 10,000 and 30,000 barrel range. Project sizes range from 30ft wide x 110ft long deck barges to 80ft wide x 300ft long deck barges. In addition to sandblasting and painting, C&C Marine and Repair offers a wide range of new construction and repair services to its customers. Repair services provided by C&C Marine and Repair include vessel cleaning and repair work, topside repairs, hull damage repairs, bottom replacement, barge coating, and tank lining. “We want to provide our customers with the most cost effective way to service their barge fleet. One way to do that is to save them time and have all their service needs done in one place, under one roof,” said Michael Alfortish, barge and vessel repair manager.

New construction projects include 10,000-barrel crude barges, 30,000-barrel crude barges, dredgers, river tugs, offshore support vessels and various specialty projects. C&C Marine and Repair recently added an additional 1,000 feet of berth space, bringing its total waterfront on the Intracoastal Waterway on the Gulf of Mexico outside of downtown New Orleans to 3,200 feet. The additional berth space complements two dry docks, six hydraulic transporters and more than 500,000 square feet of covered fabrication bays at C&C Marine and Repair’s 80-acre facility.

The robotic paint and sanding shop reflects C&C Marine and Repair’s ongoing commitment to new technologies and best practices, particularly in relation to environmental protection. Internal facilities prevent overspray, contamination and the release of paint and abrasives into adjacent waterways.

The facility’s state-of-the-art air filtration system collects and traps more than 99 percent of the airborne particles generated during the blasting and painting process. The non-toxic steel abrasive can be filtered, separated, and reused approximately one hundred and fifty (150) times in subsequent blasting operations. As a result, the facility has become the most efficient and environmentally friendly blasting and painting facility in the barge construction industry.

Having completed the first 100 barges, C&C Marine and Repair continues to expand its Belle Chasse facility to meet the needs of new and existing customers. The new robotic sandblasting and painting shop is another example of C&C Marine and Repair’s continued commitment to being a technological leader and innovator in the marine construction and repair industry.