Two cranes at the Birkenhead shipyard were taken out of service in February as a result of the continuing non-availability of spares and equipment to sustain their safe working use

Two Cammell Laird shipyard cranes that have been a prominent feature of the Birkenhead skyline for 60 year are to be dismantled.

The two cranes which sit adjacent to No 4 and 5 dock were taken out of service and removed from day to day operations in February as a result of the continuing non-availability of spares and equipment to sustain their safe working use

Since this time, operations have been managed and undertaken using modern mobile cranage to support the production processes.

While out of service the company has been undertaking the necessary assessment processes required for their safe and efficient removal and awaiting a four-week window of opportunity to undertake the decommission and dismantling process. This has now been identified and works will begin at the end of May.

Cammell Laird general manager and director Stuart Syvret, who is managing the project, said the company is sad the cranes have reached the end of their working time but it has to ensure that operations in the yard are undertaken safely.

He added: “With the modern mobile cranes that are available, we have found that this flexibility is proving to be beneficial. We are however considering the latest designs of traditional quayside cranes for any potential ‘super-heavy’ lifting requirements in the future.”