Lockdown lift for Alderney as harbour crane delivered

Sunday 31 January 2021

Alderney’s long-awaited new harbour crane has been delivered to the island and now awaits a team of fitters from the UK.

The crane, which is believed to costs around £800,000, arrived in two shipments this week. Islanders will have to wait for specialist contractors - who will live and work in isolation - to construct the crane.

Food deliveries had to be turned away from the island on occasions late last year because of persistent electrical faults with the current harbour crane.

Bad weather has delayed the critical workers' arrival on the True Blue charter vessel from Poole and the four fitters are now expected on island in around two weeks’ time. 

A vehicle and equipment will be shipped on the MV Trinity from Poole to coincide with their arrival. They work for E.H. Hassell & Son, the partner company of the crane’s manufacturer, Sennebogen. 

Pictured: The crane has arrived in two shipments in order to get it to Alderney. 

They will be accommodated in private residential accommodation with catered meals provided by approved critical workers. 

Crane construction is expected to take three to four days, working around shipping movements, during which time full Covid-19 restrictions and protocols will remain in place. 

Boyd Kelly, Chairman of the General Services Committee, said: "The measures have been put into place by the Harbour office staff and I am confident that any potential health risk to Alderney residents from these essential workers has been eliminated. I am looking forward to the new crane becoming operational as soon as possible."