In 2001, HEGER was hired by Bender Shipyard in Mobile Alabama to design a high blocking system for dry docking the U.S. Naval Cruiser THOMAS S. GATES (CG-51) on their 24,000 ton floating dry dock.
HEGER designed a high block system of steel towers and concrete composite blocking for their Pete B floating dry dock. The towers were also designed to accommodate FFG, CG, DDG and DD 963 class naval vessels. The side block towers were designed to accommodate the Navy’s standard 8′ spacing even though the dry dock’s transverse frame spacing was 25′.
The USNS THOMAS S. GATES was successfully dry docked in 2001 according to the plan. A number of other vessels have also utilized the towers.
