Displaying items by tag: ABP Ports, Garston

27th September 2016

ABP Invest In World's Largest Hydraulic Crane for Merseyside Port

An example of the 200M Mantsinen crane, which when completed will be the World's largest hydraulic crane located at ABP's Port of Garston on the Mersey, south of Liverpool

#NewPortCranes - The Merseyside Port of Garston located south of Liverpool is one of five Associated British Ports (ABP) to have ordered new hydraulic cranes worth £6m across the UK ports group.

The five Mantsinen hydraulic cranes have been purchased by ABP also for their ports of Swansea, Wales and the English ports of Teignmouth, King’s Lynn and Ipswich (see report).

When the Mantsinen 200M is installed at the Port of Garston, this will be the world’s largest hydraulic crane. The 280 tonne crane will also be the first 200M to be located in the UK.

A 90M wheeled machine has been ordered for the Port of Teignmouth and two near-identical 120M will be delivered to the ports of Swansea and King’s Lynn. An order for a 95R tracked machine has been placed for the Port of Ipswich.

ABP Short Sea Ports Director Andrew Harston said: “ABP is dedicated to putting our customers first. That is why we are continuing to invest in brand-new equipment and technology to ensure we can offer our customers the highest possible standards of service and innovative solutions.

“We have been pleased to work with Cooper Specialised Handling. Each port has its own handling needs dependent on vessel sizes, load commodities and in some cases, very specific ground loading requirements.”

Tony Rooney, Managing Director of Cooper Specialised Handling, was keen to clarify the methodology of the process, saying: “This wasn’t a single contract for five machines, but rather five individual contracts each involving the provision of one crane.

“The five ABP sites had complete freedom of choice in terms of their handling solution and we are delighted that, completely independently, each port selected Mantsinen as its preferred equipment.”

Cooper will begin delivering the cranes from next month.

Published in Ports & Shipping

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Forty Foot Swimming Spot on Dublin Bay

The 'Forty Foot' is a rocky outcrop located at the southern tip of Dublin Bay at Sandycove, County Dublin from which people have been swimming in the Irish Sea all year round for 300 years or more. It is popular because it is one of few spots between Dublin city and Greystones in County Wicklow that allows for swimming at all stages of the tide, subject to the sea state.

Forty Foot History

Traditionally, the bathing spot was exclusively a men's bathing spot and the gentlemen's swimming club was established to help conserve the area.

Owing to its relative isolation and gender-specific nature it became a popular spot for nudists, but in the 1970s, during the women's liberation movement, a group of female equal-rights activists plunged into the waters and now it is also open to everyone and it is in the control of Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council.

Many people believe that swimming in extremely cold water is healthy and good for the immune system.

Is it safe to swim at the Forty Foot?

The Forty-Foot is a great place to swim because there is always enough water to get a dip but like all sea swimming, there are always hazards you need to be aware of. For example, a lot of people like to dive into to the pool at the Forty-foot but there are submerged rocks that can be hazardous especially at low water. The Council have erected signs to warn people of the underwater dangers. Other hazards include slippy granite cut stone steps that can often be covered with seaweed and of course marine wildlife including jellyfish that make their presence felt in the summer months as do an inquisitive nearby Sandycove seal colony.