Photographic Memory: One big barge arrives from Japan

Aramco Repair Barge No. 1, the world’s largest self-elevating maintenance platform in 1977, was open to visitors from the community shortly after it was delivered to Ras Tanura from Japan. The barge was 90 meters long, 36 meters wide and was designed as a multipurpose offshore maintenance facility. Its main function was to repair major underwater pipelines, complete oil-well workovers and drive piles. In this 1977 photo, visitors are dwarfed by one of the hooks of the barge’s 500-ton revolving crane.