Cambridge Marine Terminal Railway
The Cambridge Marine Terminal Railway, located at 301 Cemetery Ave. , Cambridge, MD on Cambridge Creek, has served the Department of Natural Resources as its major marine repair facility since 1974. This State owned facility has the only railway and dry dock system capable of hauling vessels up to 120 feet in length and weight displacement of 200 short tons. This centrally located railway is in heavy demand year round and is essential for keeping DNR’s fleet of vessels operational, safe and well maintained. The recently completed project replaced the aged and deteriorated railway after 34 years of extensive use. Structural problems had developed through gradual deterioration in the timber rail system. Inspections and test results concluded the system which was rated for 100 tons was not safe to operate and in 2006 operations were ceased.
An all steel railway system and cradle was fabricated and installed on a new pile foundation. This will facilitate vessels 150 feet in length and weight displacement of 200 short tons.
DNR’s Marine Construction Division operates the railway, and the vessels they maintain are large steel haul barges and tug boats used in the construction of piers, bulkheads, stone jetties, public boat ramps and dredging of channels. Natural Resource Police vessels are used for law enforcement and setting navigational buoys channel markers. Other larger steel haul vessels maintained at this facility, such as the Big Lou and Widener, are used for ice breaking operations during the winter months to keep channels open and safe for commercial waterman while harvesting seafood. These vessels also collect floating debris in the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries, which may cause a navigational hazard.
The Cambridge Marine Terminal Railway also assists NOAA’s research vessels based at the Oxford Cooperative Lab, state and county agencies needing assistance and emergency hauling. Although not open for public use, privately owned vessels in distress or sinking, which may result in a fuel or oil release into the water, will be considered for extraction.
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| Big Lou breaks-up ice on the creek (01-2014) |
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| NOT this Winter |
Many thanks to the
Department of Natural Resources
for this information.
