09.06.2006

Titan crane restoration begins

Clydebank's only grade 'A' listed structure is the Clydebank Crane, the oldest of five Titan Cranes designed by William Arrol for the Clyde shipyards. The crane was built in 1907 for the John Brown shipyard for fitting boilers, engines and armour plate to vessels.
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The Titan crane being assembled in 1907

Its 150 ton capacity was uprated to 200 tons in 1937 and it was used on a number of famous vessels including the Lusitania (1907), the Queen Mary (1936), HMS Hood (1920), Queen Elizabeth (1940) and the QE2 (1969).
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The Titan crane in its heyday

The Crane was a major target during bombing raids in the second world war, it managed to survive the Blitz though. Today it is structurally sound but in poor shape.

Local people were very clear that they wished to protect the landmark which represents Glasgow’s industrial heritage.
The client Clyde Rebuilt aim to make the Crane accessible to the public through a new lift to the engine housing at the top of the crane, which can hold up to 40 people.

It is also being considered to make the main lifting mechanism of the original crane operable again as a feature of the attraction.
£2.9 million has been allocated for the cranes restoration and preservation..

The work, is being undertaken by a local contractor Maclean and Speirs the first job is the blasting of the structure to remove rust and old paint, ahead of re painting it the original turquoise colour.

HAKI came up with a cost effective solution for the workers to operate from, HAKI 750 beams were laced and braced together to create the unique gantry platforms required on the project.
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The Haki work platforms were lifted into place beneath the jib

All of the gantry platforms were built on the ground and then lifted into place. This has provided a safe and highly cost effective alternative to a traditional scaffold approach.

The jib and platforms have also been covered with canopies to control the impact on the environment from the steel pellets and old paint shed in the blasting process.
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Canopies covered the crane during the blasting

Maclean and Speirs managing director, Kenny Stewart said “For this unique project we needed a cost effective solution to help us provide access to support the variety of work being carried out on the crane. HAKI has provided us with platforms which also provide a base to erect additional scaffolds from”.
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An artists impression of the crane after the refurbishment is complete

The lighting design was a challenge, the crane originally had working lights at cab level to illuminate the quayside below. This will be reintroduced with the addition of feature white lighting to the crane legs and structure, and an obstacle beacon at the highest point.

The original cab, winch and electrical rooms will be subtly illuminated with white light on the external face, and filled with coloured light internally. An animated coloured lighting installation will illuminate a stainless steel protective mesh across the jib of the crane.
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The refurbished crane will have sensitive lighting

The colours from the lights will cycle slowly and gently through a carefully programmed, seasonally adapted sequence, giving the appearance of movement and activity, which is visible from the area below.