The town of Dillon christened its new 40-foot work barge, The Ms. Blakely, Friday, July 15.

Dillon Marina Director Craig Simpson said The Ms. Blakely was purchased by the town of Dillon with the intent of it being a shared resource between it and the town of Frisco, Denver Water, the Summit County Sheriff’s Office and the U.S. Forest Service. The barge, he said, represents the community’s commitment to the Dillon Reservoir and its many partners.

It expands the ability of the reservoir’s stakeholder groups to care for its infrastructure, Simpson said. Service to buoy lines and channel markers, search and rescue efforts and all of the other operations that take place on the reservoir will benefit, he said.

The barge has a carrying capacity of 100,000 pounds, a crane capable of lifting 13,000 pounds and will be fitted with a hydraulic winch capable of lifting 30,000 pounds. The raised driving tower gives the operators a safe position to work with these significant loads. It also has bow ramps to load and unload equipment like a track hoe or skid loader.

The lead builder at Barge Worx in Louisiana died during the building of this barge, and the barge is named after his daughter. Simpson said the town reached out to his wife to ask her and his daughter to name the vessel.