Kobelco saves a lighthouse

Q Crane Hire’s Kobelco CKE1350G makes light work of installing new lighthouse at Stoneness, on the Thames Estuary, UK National crane company, Q Crane Hire has used one of its 135-tonne capacity

CKE1350Gs to remove and replace an old lighthouse on the Thames Estuary at Stoneness working for Southbay Civil Engineering.

The £380,000 upgrade of the Stoneness Lighthouse, on the north bank of the Thames near Dartford Bridge, was completed within approximately one month, with the crane arriving in late September 2021. The CKE1350G was supplied with a 39m main boom, plus rooster sheave and auxiliary hoist.

Given the location of the structure, the work was carried out from a jack up barge, supplied by Red 7 Marine, which besides providing a stable platform for the CKE1350G, was also used to deliver all plant and materials from Tilbury, with the lighthouse’s existing base slab being reused to reduce the volume required.

The old lighthouse was lifted out in two sections, the heaviest of which was a 15-tonne single lift, performed at 22m radius. Other lifts were performed, both on the main hoist, as well as the rooster sheave, and auxiliary line, such as aggregates, smaller items of plant and civils materials.

The new, 11.58m-high modern lighthouse which features a marine beacon and solar panel located at the top of the structure, was also lifted in, in two sections at similar weights and radius.

Commenting on the job, Andrew Pearson, Head of Operations, Q Crane Hire, said: “With the crane working on board a jack up barge, it was a necessary requirement to choose a crawler crane, as opposed to a mobile crane, and the CKE1350G was selected for its ability to comfortably meet the duties and radius required.”

Port of London Authority assistant civil engineer, Peter Trent, who led the project, said: “Part of our ongoing investment to keep the river safe for all users, this upgrade will ensure the lighthouse is fit for purpose for years to come.”