Ferguson shipyard invests £500k in new Spanish tower crane

The tower crane at Ferguson Marine shipyard in Port Glasgow is being removed to make way for a new one.

Ferguson is investing more than £500,000 in a new tower crane to support the future growth of the business.

The existing tower crane, which has stood in the shipyard for 37 years, has reached the end of its serviceable life and is being demolished to make way for a bigger and better version.

The 31-metre crane, with a maximum load of 16 tons and reach of 45 metres, was installed at the yard in 1983 and has supported the build of 50 vessels over the years by moving shipbuilding materials and giant sections of fabricated sheet metal. The replacement crane, designed and manufactured by Spanish firm Jaso and delivered by Norfolk-based Falcon Cranes, will stand taller at 42 metres.

It will have a maximum load of 24 tons and reach of 70 metres, offering Ferguson more scope to move material and equipment within the yard.

Tim Hair, Turnaround Director at Ferguson Marine (Port Glasgow) Ltd, said:

“The tower crane is an essential part of the shipbuilding process and the old one has served the yard well for many years. The replacement crane, at a cost of over half a million pounds, is a major capital investment in Ferguson and a clear demonstration of the commitment of the Scottish Government to the long-term future of the yard.”

Work to dismantle the old crane started in the early hours of 20 October and is likely to take several days. Once removed, ground testing will be carried out to assess the foundations and ensure they are suitable for the new crane. It is expected the new crane will be installed by mid-December, subject to ground testing and weather conditions.

The work to install the new crane is being project managed by the same tower crane technician who installed the old crane in 1983.

Denis Agnew was working for French crane company, Potain, at the time, learning his trade.  He was part of the team responsible for building and installing the crane. Denis subsequently set-up his own company, Coatbridge-based DA Services, which has been providing repairs and maintenance services for the shipyard crane for its lifetime.

Denis Agnew said:

“It’s hard to believe almost four decades has passed since the crane was installed.  I can remember the work quite clearly.  I was only cutting my teeth in the industry at that time. At almost 40 years old, it’s a good time to replace the crane. 

Repairs and maintenance have kept it going efficiently in recent years, but eventually we reach a point where it doesn’t make commercial sense to continue fixing it, but instead upgrade to a new one.  The new crane will be bigger and stronger, and the added load and reach will support more efficient shipyard operations.”

The shipyard is wholly owned by Scottish Ministers. It was taken into public ownership in December 2019.