Patent ID: 7837410

Claim:
A method of refurbishing a barge having a length of about 100-450 feet (about 30 to about 135 meters), a width of about 30-75 feet (about 9 to about 23 meters), and a depth of about 8-30 feet (about 2.5 to about 9 meters), the method comprising: submerging a transport system into a waterway; moving the barge over the submerged transport system; moving the transport system in contact with the barge such that the transport system securely supports the barge; moving the transport system and barge from the waterway, up an embankment to an on-land position and away from the waterway; transferring the barge from the transport system to another transport system; moving the other transport system and barge from the on-land position into a covered blast area; abrasive blasting an exterior surface of the barge with an abrasive media while the barge is positioned within the covered blast area; moving the other transport system and barge to a covered coating area; and applying a coating to the exterior surface of the barge while the barge is positioned within the covered coating area.