Overdimensional cargo handling specialist, Sarens, has installed a 1,180-tonnes boat lift on behalf a client, Matière in La Ciotat, France.

Sarens dipped into its equipment offering at its yard in Belgium and used SPMTs, strandjcks, modular beams and mobile cranes with capacity of 100 and 200 tonnes.

Everything arrived via 40 trucks, travelling approximately two days to La Ciotat. Once on site, the crew spent two and a half weeks setting up the equipment, which was selected for its capacity and ability to connect seamlessly with the SPMTs.

The boat lift to be installed was a steel platform weighing 1.180 tonnes and measuring 100 metres x 23 metres x 2,7 metres. With the equipment ready, Sarens’ SPMTs transported it 150 metres, where it was then lowered three metres into its final position.

Throughout the operation, the challenge was keeping the configuration, consisting of SPMTs and the platform, completely horizontal. Because there was a 25 centimetre height difference between the assembly position and the final position, it was essential to ensure good communication between the SPMT operator and the rest of the crew, so that accurate instructions could be given.

This operation involved seven crew members and was concluded within a day.