TM55-1930-209-14&P-1SectionIV. Anchoringsiteselectionconsiderations16-8 Barge requirements16-8.1Barge is designed to operate in sea conditions not exceeding Sea State 3. This is a condition not exceeding acombination of winds up to 16 knots, waves to a height of 6 feet, and currents up to 3 knots. Therefore, barge must beoperated in protected waters or be within range of reaching protected waters prior to arrival of major storm activity.16-8.2Depending on sea conditions, barge may be operated in areas with a minimum low tide depth of 8 feet. Operatingat depths of less than 15 feet requires use of the starboardside water suction pipe rather than bottom mounted seachest.CAUTIONMost tugs used to position and recover the barge, due to their draft and propellerclearance requirements, will not enter water with an operating depth of less than20-30 feet.16-8.3Optimum depth for normal barge operation is between 25 and 35 feet.16-8.4The barge must be anchored within 2000 feet of the high water shoreline so the 2500 feet of shore dischargewater hose can reach the shore connection.16-8.5In depths greater than 50 feet, anchors may not hold. At these depths, the angle between the seabottom and theanchor/anchor cable becomes so great the anchor flukes may not be able to rotate enough to dig into the bottom and holdthe anchor in position.16-8.6The barge must be anchored with its stem facing the beach and in direct line with the shore facility hookup point.16-9 Beach and shore requirements16-9.1Area must provide sufficient level space for establishing a water distribution facility with road access to the shorefacility.16-9.2Area must provide sufficient smooth, hard ground for location and anchoring of beach winch for pulling in bargewater shore discharge hose. This winch weighs about 6 tons, and area must provide access for rough terrain forklift toenter a beached LCM, pick up the winch, move to the designated site for the winch and position it. Area must alsoprovide suitable method for anchoring beach winch. This is normally done by driving six to ten 5-foot stakes into theground and securing the winch to the stakes.16-9.3Area must provide sufficient smooth hard ground for establishing connection point between shore facility andbarge water discharge hose. Area must have sufficient slope to encourage drainage of excess water.16-9.4Area must provide smooth, gradually decreasing grade from connection point to shore high water line and thenunderwater to barge location.16-10 Oceanographic requirements16-10.1Optimum site has minimum current, sea action, and natural harbor to provide protection from adverse weather.Sea direction is generally set by prevailing winds. Even when current is fairly strong (up to 3 knots), wind directionnormally establishes sea direction. Therefore, prevailing winds must be determined before selecting a site.16-10.2Sea bottom conditions must provide a very high probability that anchor will set and hold. Mud and sand bottomsnormally provide this. Rock and/or coral may be more difficult.16-5
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