Wasel returns container bridge

Heavy load lifting and logistics contractor Wasel helped install a repaired container bridge on the River Rhine in Germany.

The bridge near Dormagen suffered damage in storms in June 2014. During the storm the bridge was forced against its buffers, which bent two of the supports and caused the portal crane and its rollers to come off its rails.

The structure was removed and repaired over a period of eight months. Wasel used five Liebherr cranes to reposition the portal crane. Models on site included two LR 1600/2 crawler cranes, and wheeled mobile telescopic models LTM 1750-9.1, LTM 1500-8.1 and LTM 1220-5.2.

The container bridge dimensions are 100 metres tall, 109 m long and 21 m wide. For its installation, the crawlers were positioned on the bank of the Rhine in a six m deep pre-flooded basin. The LTM 1750-9.1 and an LTM 1500-8.1 were used for hoisting work and the LTM 1220-5.2 was used for erection work.

The portal crane was moved between the cranes using two self propelled modular transporters (SPMT) and auxiliary rail systems. The 560 tonne structure was lifted in a four-way hoist by four of the cranes and held at a height of around 25 m. As the structure was held, the new supports and tracks to the portal crane were installed. Once in place, the container bridge was reset on its tracks.

The job took two days to complete.