Built by Gibbs Gas Engine Co. in Jacksonville, Florida and launched in 1962, the vessel has a length of 65 feet (20m), a beam of 21 feet (6.4m), and a shallow 5-foot (1.5m)draft.[3] It is powered by two diesel engines, generating roughly 600 horsepower (450kW) for a top speed of roughly 10 knots (19km/h; 12mph).[4] The ship has a nearly 3,100-nautical-mile (5,700km; 3,600mi) operational range. It is crewed by 12 to 19 crew members, depending on mission type.[4] The ships shallow draft allows it to operate in multiple types of river conditions, including shallow areas that would otherwise be unreachable. The vessel pushes a 90-foot (27m) ATON barge, which houses all necessary equipment and tools, including a crane, needed for maintaining navigation buoys.[5] Its hull is strengthened to maintain safety in icy conditions.
Duties
Sangamon is responsible for regularly replacing, inspecting, repairing, and reposition buoys and river markers. During high-water seasons, the crew readily inspects and replaces damaged buoys, often times under serious conditions. In 2016, the Illinois River experienced torrential floods and dangerously high-water levels.[6] The Sangamon was deployed to quickly re-establish navigation aids that had been ripped from their anchors by the floods, operating in dangerous currents and debris-filled waterways. During ice seasons, the vessel serves as a shallow draft monitor, breaking and shifting river ice to protect life and property.[7] Crews regularly rotate seasonally, with regular training for all potential crew.[8] The vessel also participates in local river safety events, assisting in public outreach and river traffic guidance for all ages.
↑ "Wayback Machine"(PDF). www.mvr.usace.army.mil. Archived(PDF) from the original on 2025-03-24. Retrieved 2025-07-13.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply. Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.
