Harland & Wolff in Belfast gets 11 new cranes

The last of 11 new cranes from Walter Watson being installed at the famous Harland and Wolff shipyard in Northern Ireland. Photo: Navantia

Harland & Wolff shipyard owner Navantia invested £1.5 million (US million) in 11 new cranes to help build ships in Belfast, Northern Ireland.

Local County Down supplier Walter Watson Ltd supplied and installed all the new cranes. The final one was a 20 tonne capacity semi-goliath gantry crane with 20 metre span. It will be used to move steel and ship components around the site.

The new cranes are part of the £98.5 million ($ million) investment by Spain-based Navantia to refurbish and modernise the yard where RMS Titanic was built. Works include renovation of the famous yellow Samson & Goliath travelling gantry cranes.

The other new cranes delivered were six electric overhead travelling (EOT) bridge cranes and four jib cranes for the fabrication hall and its new 5,000 square metre extension.

Cranes in the family

Walter Watson is a family-owned structural steel and industrial overhead crane specialist. It works with Abus cranes from Germany. Radio control, collision-avoidance, digital load indication and preparation for magnet operation was included on the new cranes.

Commenting on the deal David Barr, Walter Watson managing director, said, “We’re delighted to have been awarded the contract to manufacture, install and commission these 11 cranes for Navantia UK’s Harland & Wolff site. In particular, it’s a privilege to have been entrusted to supply and commission this twin hoist semi-goliath crane under the shadow of the iconic Samson and Goliath cranes, from which this model takes its name.

“All of these units were manufactured and tested at our County Down-based facility in Castlewellan. We used our in-house transport capabilities to deliver them to Harland & Wolff’s site on Belfast Harbour, prior to erecting them with an 80 tonne mobile crane from our own plant fleet.”

For his part Carlos Lopez Carregado, Harland & Wolff general manager, said, “This new crane will play a key role in shipyard operations. It will be a vital piece of equipment as we assemble ship blocks in readiness to build the Fleet Solid Support ship, and many future ships in Belfast. We’re pleased to be working with Walter Watson, a world class local supplier.”