Skimmer Boat Arrives at Lake Cumberland

Skimmer Boat Arrives at Lake Cumberland

SOMERSET, KY -- U.S. Representative Hal Rogers announced today that the "skimmer boat" that will collect trash on Lake Cumberland has arrived in Pulaski County. The vessel, which is actually a tow boat with two barges, will collect debris from the lake's surface and shore line.

"After waiting anxiously for two years, I am pleased to report that the skimmer boat has made its way to Pulaski County," said Rogers. "This one-of-a-kind vessel was specifically designed and built with the unique terrain and needs of Lake Cumberland in mind. I expect the skimmer boat to make a significant impact on our cleanup efforts at the lake."

The three main components of the vessel were unloaded today at the Lake View boat ramp, behind Picasso's Bistro on U.S. 27 in Somerset. A crane from the U.S. 90 bridge construction project was used to move the 26-feet-long tow boat and the two 60-feet-long barges from trucks to the water. The American Bridge Company provided the crane.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which will operate the skimmer boat, will now begin putting the boat together. Once assembled, Corps staff will begin "test driving" the one-of-a-kind vessel. An official christening ceremony will be announced at a later date. Once in service, the boat will operate throughout the lake. The Lake View boat ramp will be its base of operations.

The boat's journey to its permanent mooring ramp was a long one. The disassembled vessel traveled on four trucks to Somerset from Mobile, Alabama, where it was manufactured by the Advanced Industrial and Marine Company. The convoy of trucks left Mobile on February 28 and arrived in Somerset late on March 1. The unloading process began early on March 2.

Rogers used his senior position on the Appropriations Committee to secure $700,000 in the federal budget for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to build the skimmer boat.

http://www.house.gov/rogers/March2005/skimmerboat.html