Restoration of historic shipyard crane under way
Work to dismantle Hull’s last remaining Scotch Derrick crane has got underway.
Specialist engineering contractor, Mona Lifting Limited, has been appointed to dismantle, transport, conserve and rebuild the 18-tonne crane, which is based at the former North End Shipyard.
After preparatory work, the crane will be carefully dismantled into sections, lifted by mobile crane onto trucks and transported to Mona’s works for sympathetic repair that maintains the crane’s integrity and original look, using traditional riveting and joining techniques.
Corrosion will be treated by blast cleaning and all metal items will be re-coated using two-pack epoxy paints in colours matching the original livery.
Once restored it will return to a different location at North End Shipyard and re-erected in its original configuration.
The former dockyard is set to be a new visitor attraction for the city and will become the new home for the Arctic Corsair, Hull’s last sidewinder trawler.
Hull City Council leader Daren Hale, and portfolio holder for economic investment, regeneration and planning, land and property, said: “It’s great to see work start on the city’s last remaining Scotch Derrick crane.
“This stiff-legged crane has been rescued. By restoring and rebuilding this piece of equipment it will give it a new lease of life so visitors can appreciate its history, significance and story.”
Gethin Jones of Mona Lifting said: “We are very proud and honoured to have been selected to carry out this interesting and technically demanding work.”
Work to repair the crane is expected to take six months to complete.
The Hull Maritime project, funded by the council and the National Lottery Heritage Fund, will see the redevelopment of five historic sites in Hull city centre: the transformation of the Grade II* Maritime Museum, and Dock Office Chambers, the creation of a new visitor attraction at the North End Shipyard, and the restoration of two historic vessels, Arctic Corsair and Spurn Lightship.