13.07.2010

Historic ship lift

Two new heavy lift cranes from UK based Ainscough Crane Hire have lifted the world’s last remaining steam coaster, the SS Robin on to a pontoon for its last trip.

Ainscough used a Liebherr LGD1550 and a Terex Demag TC 2800-1 to lift the 120 year old, 300 tonne, 44 metre long and seven metre wide vessel from a slipway at the docks in Lowestoft, onto a pontoon for its short voyage to London where it will become a floating museum.
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A Liebherr LGD1550 and Terex Demag TC 2800-1 lift the 120 year old ship

Gary Bowler, heavy cranes contracts manager at Ainscough said: “This was a complex lift, which we planned to precision to protect this unique piece of maritime history. We needed to lift the vessel from a four degree incline on the slipway, and used a specially designed rigging system to level the load before positioning it on the pontoon – ensuring no unnecessary stresses were put on the structure.”

“The SS Robin is an important part of our national heritage and it was an honour to be involved in the project.”