The barge was placed at right angles to the quay and the crane carefully driven off at the appropriate time. The transfer took only five minutes and was very smooth and successful.

The crane will be a valuable asset to the Port of St Helier and is the first harbour mobile crane to work there. The crane can lift a maximum of 64 tons and has a maximum outreach of 38m, at which radius it can lift 25 tonnes. The crane comes fully equipped with an automatic spreader and rotator for loading containers and can also use its twin hook lifting arrangement for the varied cargo which the Port of St Helier imports.

The installation of a new crane is just one of a number of changes planned for the New North Quay over the coming months. It is similar to machines currently used in the UK, Ireland, France and Belgium and is capable of handling up to 42 containers per hour. It will replace the current ‘Scotch Derrick’ crane, which has been used at the port since 1971. It has now come to the end of its economic and operational life and after it has been dismantled will be sold for scrap.

 The new crane will be used to supply lift off facilities of cargo on lo-lo ships, mainly containerised cargo but which can also hold anything from scrap, building material and other bulk loads. Between March and May, stevedores, Jersey Harbours personnel and Transport & Technical Services staff will familiarise themselves with the crane, maintenance schedules and repairs.

Additional changes to the layout of the New North Quay over the coming months include new Portacabins for shipping agents Huelin Renouf and Troys. A temporary warehouse for Channel Logistics will also be installed. It is hoped all of this will be completed by June 2008.