C&C Marine tops 700 barges blasted at robotic facility

Photo Credit: C&C Marine and Repair

C&C Marine and Repair, a full-service shipyard on the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway in Belle Chasse, La., reports that it has blasted more than 700 barges at its robotic blast and paint facility, marking a milestone in its surface preparation and coatings operations.

Since opening in November 2018, the 83,350-square-foot, fully enclosed and climate-controlled facility has operated day and night, year-round, processing hopper barges, deck barges, and 10,000- and 30,000-barrel tank barges for customers across the inland marine industry.

“Surpassing 700 barges is a testament to what’s possible when you commit to building better technology instead of accepting the status quo,” said Tony Cibilich, owner of C&C Marine and Repair. “Our customers trust us with their most valuable assets, and this facility was built to honor that trust — faster turnarounds, superior finish quality, and zero weather-related delays.”

The facility includes three automated blasting robots, each capable of processing up to 2,000 square feet per hour. According to the company, the system can complete blasting on a standard inland hopper barge in a fraction of the time required for manual methods, with two hopper barges processed in about 36 hours. The system applies automation technology used in other industries to barge surface preparation.

The facility uses a steel grit blast medium that, the company said, produces NACE III inspector-verified surface profile readings of 4.5 to 4.8, compared with typical readings of 3.0 to 3.5 for conventional sand or slag methods. The company said this can improve coating adhesion and extend coating life.

The company also said the facility’s air filtration system captures more than 99% of airborne particulates, reduces runoff and overspray into nearby waterways, and allows steel grit media to be recycled multiple times before disposal.

“Every barge that comes through this facility goes back to work faster and stays protected longer,” said Mike Wade, manager of blasting operations. “That’s real value for our customers’ bottom line.”

C&C Marine and Repair’s Belle Chasse facility spans 100+ acres and includes over 500,000 square feet of covered fabrication space, two drydocks, eight hydraulic transporters, and 3,200 linear feet of waterfront dock space. The company offers fully integrated newbuild construction, repair, conversion, and surface preparation services across all vessel types.