Liebherr Floating Unit Operation & The LR 1400 SX
- Meagan Wood
- Mar 17, 2025
- 4 min read
Updated: Dec 27, 2025
30-Second Takeaway
The Liebherr LR 1400 SX crawler crane is demonstrating how modern crawler cranes are expanding offshore and maritime construction capabilities. Deployed on Norway’s Tangenvika railway bridge project, the crane showcases its ability to operate from water-based platforms, support marine foundation work, and adapt to space-constrained environments. With certification for barge and floating crane operations, modular counterweights, and rapid self-assembly, the LR 1400 SX highlights Liebherr’s growing role in offshore wind, port construction, and marine infrastructure projects worldwide.
Despite its size, the LR 1400 SX boasts a wide range of applications and demonstrates impressive flexibility. The LR 1400 SX showcases it's diverse uses being utilized on the Tangenvika river project in Norway. The longest railway bridge in Norway Tangenvika. Building this 1,042-metre long prestressed concrete bridge, which spans a large land area and includes a wildlife crossing, requires true #liebherrpower.
Two Liebherr machines are in action: the LR 1400 SX lifts the casing from the water to bring it into the vertical position. Afterwards, the piling and drilling rig LRB 355.1 is installing nearly 60 piles at an 11-degree incline in the ground. Now that’s what we call teamwork! This adaptability is facilitated by a modular counterweight system and various boom configurations. With a compact transport weight of 46 tons, the entire crane can be easily moved between job sites. The platform and railings remain attached to the upper carriage during transportation. The self-assembly system allows for rapid assembly. The Ground Pressure Visualization feature calculates the crane's current ground pressure in real-time and compares it with the specified safety limits for the relevant position. Additionally, the ground pressure can be reduced using ground pressure reduction plates.
Liebherr crawler cranes are certified for lifting operations on barges, and their application as floating cranes presents numerous new opportunities. Particularly in urban areas where space is limited, rivers can serve as alternative working platforms. Crawler cranes perform lifting operations on floating platforms, and the transportation of construction materials via the river helps to alleviate road congestion in city centers. Rivers in populated regions represent a significant area of opportunity for the floating LR series.
Liebherr's floating crawler cranes exhibit remarkable versatility during the construction of river regulations, flood retention areas, drainage systems, and treatment plants. On jack-up platforms, crawler cranes function as working platforms for port expansion. In offshore wind farms, our LR crawler cranes are well-suited for placement on pontoons. For approximately one year, the IJsselmeer (Lake IJssel) in northern Netherlands was the site of an extraordinary project involving an LR 11350. The crawler crane successfully erected the entire "Westermeerwind" wind farm from a substantial jack-up platform, which included 48 Siemens wind turbines with a hub height of 95 meters.
Liebherr crawler cranes are also utilized in ports, where their versatility as handling equipment is highly sought after. This is particularly evident in the heavy lift, general cargo, and project cargo sectors. It is common to see our LR crawler cranes in ports, especially for heavy lifting tasks such as handling components for oil platforms or wind turbine elements for offshore wind farms. For exceptionally heavy components that standard harbor cranes cannot manage, the LR crawler crane series is essential. While container handling is not the primary area of application, the crawler crane can effectively step in when needed, such as when a cargo handling crane is out of service. Equipping the crawler crane with the necessary lifting equipment requires minimal time.
About Liebherr Offshore & Maritime Crawler Cranes LR Series
Liebherr LR crawler cranes are engineered for demanding offshore, maritime, and coastal construction environments where lifting capacity, stability, and adaptability are critical. Designed and manufactured by Liebherr Werk Ehingen GmbH, the LR series supports operations on land, barges, jack-up platforms, and floating work surfaces.
These cranes are widely deployed in offshore wind farms, where they assist with turbine erection, foundation installation, and heavy component handling from pontoons and jack-up platforms. In ports and harbors, LR crawler cranes serve as versatile heavy-lift solutions for project cargo, offshore module handling, and infrastructure expansion, particularly when conventional port cranes reach their limits.
Liebherr crawler cranes are also used in river regulation, flood control, coastal protection, and marine civil engineering, enabling lifting operations directly from water-based platforms while reducing reliance on road transport and minimizing disruption in congested coastal and urban areas.
With modular boom systems, transport-optimized components, rapid self-assembly, and digital safety technologies, Liebherr’s LR crawler cranes deliver reliable performance across offshore and maritime projects where precision and flexibility are essential.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is the LR 1400 SX well suited for offshore and maritime projects?
The crane is certified for lifting operations on barges and floating platforms, allowing it to work from rivers, ports, jack-up platforms, and offshore pontoons where land-based access is limited.
How was the LR 1400 SX used on the Tangenvika project?
Operating from the water, the crane lifted foundation casings into a vertical position, supporting marine and near-shore foundation works alongside a Liebherr piling and drilling rig.
Can Liebherr crawler cranes operate as floating cranes?
Yes. Liebherr crawler cranes are approved for floating crane operations and are widely used on barges and jack-up platforms for offshore wind farms, port construction, and marine infrastructure projects.
What advantages do crawler cranes offer in ports and harbors?
Crawler cranes provide high lifting capacity, flexibility, and fast setup times, making them ideal for handling heavy project cargo, offshore components, and oversized loads that exceed the capacity of standard harbor cranes.
How does the LR 1400 SX support offshore wind construction?
The LR series is frequently used for offshore wind projects, including turbine assembly, foundation handling, and component installation from floating platforms or jack-up vessels.
What safety features support marine operations?
Ground Pressure Visualization calculates real-time ground pressure and compares it with defined limits, an important feature when operating on floating platforms, pontoons, or temporary marine work surfaces.
