Friday roundup: Bay Crane ranks, Barnhart lifts and Bayesian resurfaces

Looking from the front, at the bow of Bayesian, as water is pumped out of its hull. Photo: Reuters

Happy Friday, CTB readers! Let’s take a look back at the lead stories from this week.

For the first time in its 86-year history, Bay Crane Companies has landed on the ACT100 list of North America’s top crane-owning companies, ranking an impressive No. 5 overall. It’s a major milestone for a company long rooted in New York City but now expanding rapidly across the U.S.

In an exclusive interview with American Cranes & Transport, President and CEO Kenneth Bernardo reflects on Bay Crane’s bold growth strategy, the decision to participate in the ACT100 and the company’s thoughtful approach to acquiring and integrating legacy crane firms in the Midwest.

Since 2021, Bay Crane has tripled in size, growing to 24 locations and acquiring nine companies. But for Bernardo, it’s not just about size, it’s about culture, continuity and long-term value for both customers and employees.

“If we can help these legacy companies grow while preserving what made them great, that’s a win for everyone,” Bernardo told us.

Read the full interview with Bernardo here.

At a massive semiconductor site in Central Texas, USA, Barnhart Crane & Rigging was brought in to support the installation of 150 MEP modules. The original plan to install them one by one raised safety and efficiency concerns.

Barnhart engineered a better way by developing two custom rigging tools: the Barnhart Lifting Table and Jack Masters. These tools enabled crews to lift modules weighing up to 113,400 kilograms (250,000 pounds) from ground level to 7.9 meters (26 feet), significantly reducing field welds and time spent working at height.

“The Barnhart Lift Tables and Jack Masters gave us the versatility we needed to accomplish this extremely tall order,” said Compton Latture. “Barnhart’s engineering team collaborated with the piping and steel contractor to analyze each layout to determine weight, center of gravity support points and obstructions.”

Read more about the winning SC&RA Job of the Year for Rigging Over $3 million.

The doomed superyacht Bayesian which sank nearly a year ago has been raised from the Italian seabed using a 2,200 tonne capacity offshore crane. Super heavy lift floating crane Hebo Lift 10, owned by Hebo Maritiemservice in the Netherlands, raised the sunken superyacht off the coast of Sicily. Hebo’s 2,200 tonne capacity sheerlegs vessel, previously known as Taklift 4, lifted the 540 tonne yacht on 21 June. On 19 August 2024 it sank in bad weather, killing its owner, tech tycoon Mike Lynch, his daughter and five others.

As it broke the surface suspended from the crane Bayesian’s upper deck appeared badly damaged and its blue hull was covered in mud after lying on the seabed at a depth of 50 metres. With Bayesian out of the water the salvage team, led by British company TMC Marine, pumped out the hull as the vessel was held in an elevated position, before onward travel for accident investigation.

Read more about the superyacht recovery and the cranes that did it.