Five Foss Maritime barges recently arrived in Port of Ponce, Puerto Rico, carrying nearly 500 utility trucks tasked with restoring electricity to the island.
The barges made the trip in less than two weeks, leaving from the Port of Lake Charles in Louisiana and from the Port of Virginia in Norfolk. The convoy also contained two ocean-going tugboats.
The utility trucks are part of a coalition of 19 U.S. electric companies. The equipment includes aerial lifts, bucket trucks, CAT skid-steer loaders, digger derricks, line trucks, pickups and pull trailers.
More than 1,000 line workers and other personnel from participating electric companies flew to Puerto Rico to meet the trucks. They will be assisting the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority.
“It’s been an amazing collaboration between Foss and the utility companies to help restore the power grid in Puerto Rico,” Capt. Peter Roney, Foss project manager, said. “A lot of people are still without power, so we’re glad that we have the crews and vessels at the ready to help deliver these much-needed resources to the island.”
Foss arrived in Puerto Rico in October with more than 100 personnel, three accommodation vessels, and an ocean-going tug.