Unveiled at the Port of Ghent in November 2018, Sarens SGC-250, the largest crane in the world, required a transport solution for delivery to the Hinkley Point C Nuclear Power Plant (HPC) site in Somerset.

Destined for its first UK project, the SGC-250 will play a key role in constructing Hinkley Point C Nuclear Power Plant, which is currently the largest and most complex civil engineering project in the UK.

For this logistical challenge, the Collett Team were appointed to undertake all vessel discharge procedures, heavy lift services and heavy transport operations to deliver the massive structure in modular form.

On arrival at Avonmouth, the Collett Team worked two 12 hour day shifts to discharge all the components required to fully construct the 250m high SGC-250 Crane. With this tight timeframe in which to discharge the vessel, Collett utilised port cranes, mobile cranes and seven specialist vehicles, arranging and delivering each of the components to an agreed plan. With a designated laydown area at the Port, Collett systematically transported each of the cargoes to their designated storage plot, allowing ease of access to deliver each component in line with their specific construction schedule. With a cumulative weight of over 3,000 Metric Tonnes, each of the components were successfully discharged within the tight 24 hour timescale and safely stored quayside ready for onward delivery.

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In line with the HPC Delivery Management System, which provided dedicated routes for the deliveries, and also pre-arranged dates and timeslots, Collett began transporting each of the crane components to the Somerset construction site. Beginning in April, and across the four following months, Collett undertook over 400 deliveries to the HPC site, travelling the 45 miles from Avonmouth and successfully delivering the SGC-250 components.

Once constructed, the crane will be responsible for lifting HPC's heaviest components. It is planned that more than 600 heavy fabrications, including the five major parts of each unit's steel containment liner and dome will be positioned by the SGC-250.