BKL ships MK crane to island for palace restoration

Crane rental specialist BKL transported a mobile construction crane by ferry to Herreninsel in Germany’s Lake Chiemsee, where it supported scaffolding operations at the historic Herrenchiemsee Palace.

The four-axle Liebherr MK 88-4.1E, operated by BKL, arrived at the mainland jetty before sunrise and was loaded onto a cargo ferry for the short crossing to the island.

The MK 88-4.1E mobile construction crane from BKL is erecting a scaffolding canopy over a historic fountain

Once ashore, the crane was moved through the palace grounds to reach the work area, where scaffolding crews were preparing to install protective structures around the site’s ornate fountain installations.

According to project manager Christian Hofmann of Westermaier GmbH, the choice of crane was driven by the need for both reach and precision. The MK 88-4.1E offers greater hook height than smaller mobile cranes, combined with horizontal jib operation that allows loads to be positioned accurately over sensitive features. This was particularly important for navigating around the site’s decorative fountains, some of which reach heights of up to 13 metres.

BKL’s Liebherr MK 88-4.1E arrived at the mainland jetty before sunrise and was loaded onto a cargo ferry for the short crossing to the island

Long radius

The crane was set up outside the fountain basins, requiring a working radius of approximately 25 metres. Its 45 metre foldable jib and variable steep positions enabled hook heights of more than 59 metres, providing sufficient capacity to lift and place large format scaffolding components.

During the operation, the crane was repositioned once between two fountain areas. The relocation and subsequent setup were completed in around 30 minutes, allowing work to resume with minimal interruption. After the scaffolding structures were erected, the crane was also used to install protective tarpaulins over the installations, shielding the historic features and technical systems from winter conditions.