By: Kelly Holdaway On: January 28, 2014 In: Blog Comments: 0

UNIC mini crane at Anderton Boat Lift

When GGR took on this project at the Anderton Boat Lift there was no need to push the boat out with expensive lifting equipment. UNIC mini cranes again proved to be a simple, safe and cost-effective lifting solutions for waterways projects.

The Anderton Boat Lift in Northwich, Cheshire is an example of Victorian engineering at its best. Opened in 1875, the Anderton lift is still used to carry boats the 15 metre distance between the Trent & Mersey Canal and the River Weaver.

A UNIC URW-095 mini spider crane and operator were hired from GGR to work at the top of the boat lift where it connects with the canal. The crane was used to lift several 5 metre long stop planks into place to help drain the basin ready for inspections and maintenance work.

UNIC URW-095 lifting stop planks

The 0.995 tonne capacity mini crane worked at a 5 metre radius next to the water, carefully moving each 90kg stop plank for the nearby installation team to fix into position.  The UNIC mini crane returned to the boat lift a few days later to remove the planks once the work had been completed.

Designed by Edward Leader-Williams, the two caisson boat lift used water-filled hydraulic rams to carry vessels up and down. The boat lift had to be closed in 1983 because of corrosion but it was reopened in 2002 thanks to a £7 million restoration project where its hydraulic system was given a modern makeover.

GGR help with Anderton Boat Lift maintenance workThe Anderton Boat Lift is one of only two working boat lifts in the UK, the other is the Falkirk Wheel in Scotland where GGR’s UNIC mini cranes have also worked. A UNIC URW-506 mini crane built a dam to drain the world’s only rotating boat lift for maintenance work.

A UNIC URW-295 crane was also used to install stop planks to a canal lock in Cheshire for a routine lock inspection.

 

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