Cranes help pursue ecological ambition

Two deck cranes and a catcher basket contribute to the 40 tonne weight of Pelikan II. Photo: Liebherr

As a pioneer in the green fields of sustainability Norway’s Port of Oslo has for many years been using an electric boat to clear rubbish from its waters.

In a similar way to electric cars, it might have fewer moving parts and need less maintenance but, once a year, the Pelikan II battery-powered boat still needs to be lifted out of the water for its winter inspection.

Its 40 tonne weight was well within the capability of the green-liveried crane from Nordic Crane Kynningsrud. A 230 tonne capacity Liebherr LTM 1230-5.1 wheeled mobile telescopic crane was chosen for the job to lift the twelve-metre-long vessel. A special lifting beam and associated rigging added a further three tonnes to make the load on the five axle crane a total of 43 tonnes.

Lifting 43 tonnes at 14 metres

Sigurjon Viktorsson, operator of the Nordic Crane Kynningsrud Liebherr LTM 1230-5.1. Photo: Liebherr

Having set his crane up on the quayside, operator Sigurjon Viktorsson made the lift at an operating radius of 14 metres. His crane carried 52 tonnes of counterweight. Over a period of two weeks work was carried out to prepare the ship for the following season before it was returned to the harbour.

Sigurjon Viktorsson usually uses his four-year-old crane to assemble and dismantle tower cranes in Oslo and eastern Norway. “It’s a great crane for this work. I can reach the height I need with the 75 metre telescopic boom. And the ballast of up to 72 tonnes can be placed on different radii. This means I can also work in tight spaces or maximise the load capacity with a large ballast radius,” Viktorsson explained.

Continuing with the green theme, Oslo is one of the world’ most ecologically ambitious cities. City authorities are requesting low emission machines on construction sites. Nordic Crane Kynningsrud has three hybrid Liebherr LTC 1050-3.1E compact cranes. They operate conventionally with a diesel engine for road travel but for lifting on site they can be operated electrically with zero emission at the point of use.

One of Nordic Crane’s three Liebherr LTC 1050-3.1E hybrid cranes. Photo: Liebherr