Crane to Fame: Three of the World’s Most Famous Cranes

We are confident that you will have seen many cranes before in your life. They are, afterall, a staple piece of lifting equipment that are used for a multitude of applications both industrial and unique.

Though they may not appear to be anything special (though we still believe they are incredibly so) since everyone is so used to seeing them, there are actually some cranes that even have a claim to fame.

We’ve listed three of the world’s most famous cranes - check them out below!

1 | Samson and Goliath, Northern Ireland

Technically, this isn’t one crane, but two. Potentially two of the most notable cranes in history, the Samson and Goliath gantry cranes are situated in Belfast at the docks of the Harland and Wolff shipyard. Harland and Wolff were a shipbuilding company that were the biggest employer in Belfast during the early 1900s; over 1,700 vessels were created by them - one of which being the Titanic.

In the post-war years, ship building went into a decline in the UK, with the changing industrial landscape putting strain on Harland and Wolff with fears about the stability of the company. This is when Samson and Goliath came into the picture; a huge modernisation project was undertaken that included the construction of these iconic gantry cranes, which were subsequently seen as a symbol of a brighter, more stable future.

Although Harland and Wolff have stopped trading, the Northern Irish government ensured that the cranes would be preserved with recognised status as having ‘architectural or historical interest’.

2 | Taisun, China

If you’ve ever wondered what the most powerful crane in the world is - this is it. Located in Yantai in the Shandong province in China, the Taisun crane stands at a height of 133 metres, spans 120 metres and has a lifting capacity of 20,000 tonnes. It is predominantly used for installing large modules in semi-submersibles and floating production storage and offloading (FPSO) units.

In 2008, the Taisun crane even earned itself the Guinness World Record for the heaviest weight ever lifted, by lifting a barge ballasted with water that weighed in at 20,133 tonnes. Prior to this, it held two other world records for the heaviest lifts, which were 17,100 tonnes and 14,000 tonnes respectively.

3 | Harlingen Harbour, the Netherlands

Originally used for towing unloaded cargo ships to shore, the Harlingen Harbour crane ultimately fell into disrepair in the late 90s. However, it was given a second chance at life after being restored by a team of enthusiasts, which is when it began its rise to stardom.

Since it was no longer needed as a crane, the Harlingen Harbour crane now has a surprising alternative use instead, since it’s restoration saw it being converted into a single hotel room for couples, complete with a roof terrace and rotatable view of the harbour - which can be controlled by the occupants themselves in the control cabin!

Crane & Lifting Services Ltd

If you’re in need of an experienced crane company who offer their services across the UK, then look no further than Crane & Lifting Services Ltd.

Whether you need crane repairs, installations or testing, we have over 100 years of experience to get the job done right.

Get in touch with us today to enquire about our services.