First operation of new Liebherr heavy lift crane at the Niagara Falls

The new Fixed Cargo Crane (FCC) from Liebherr completed its first job at a famous location. On 31st October 2013, the crane lifted passenger tour boats of the local company Maid of the Mist out of the water for winter storage at the foot of the Niagara Falls. With a lifting capacity of 200 tonnes at a radius of 15 metres this FCC is the first of its kind for the heavy lift crane segment.

A short time before the crane was installed on the new drydock facility on the U.S. side of the river. Since this facility is located in a gorge below the water falls the FCC is the perfect crane for this site. It is fitted on a fixed pedestal and provides a space-saving solution for installation on narrow docks thanks to its slim design.

In the run-up to this lift especially the last part of the transportation proved to be challenging. Due to the gorge's limited road access the single parts of the FCC had to be lowered to the crane's final position with the help of a ring crane. The new heavy lift crane is part of a 32-million-dollar project for the construction of the new dockside. The facility is planned to be completed in summer 2014.

http://youtu.be/tUj00XK8uuc

A Liebherr Fixed Cargo Crane (FCC) from Liebherr lifts passenger tour boats of the local company Maid of the Mist out of the Niagara-river for winter storage.