Our customer had a large clam-shell barge unloader that needed to be positioned throughout the barge. The point load weight was too large to be unsupported on the barge floor. We collaborated on the solution with the customer to come up with a 15′ wide x 30′ special crane mat and 30′ long “outrigger” shoes. The unloader can “lift itself” and slip and slide the mat into position (using the cables and pipe grab) and work all corners of the barge. They are unloading Metallurgical coal or “coking coal” which is a grade of coal that can be used to produce good-quality “coke”. Coke is an essential fuel and reactant in the blast furnace process for primary steel making. Because of the Crane Pad the unloaded is completely independent and doesn’t require a zoom boom or some other wheeled vehicle to move his support mat. A good solution!