HAULOTTE PLATFORMS ESSENTIAL ON MARINE DEMOLITION (click on highlighted images for high-resolution)

UK based demolition contractor, PGC Demolition, is well advanced on its largest ever demolition project – cutting up and removal of ‘The Riverdance' - a 6,000 t. roll-on/roll-off ferry which was beached during severe storms earlier this year on the Lancashire coast, near to Blackpool.

Key to the successful demolition is five Haulotte HA 16 PX access platforms, which are used by operators using oxy-acetylene cutting equipment to provide access to the 16 m high ship lying on its side. The ship is embedded some 3 m into the sand.

For the contractor, this is a very demanding project with many unusual aspects. The ship is 300 m from the shore and can only be accessed at low tide. This means all the equipment has to be driven out and back one or twice each day according to the tide timetable. Therefore, reliability was a critical consideration in equipment selection.

Peter Cordwell, Managing Director of PGC Demolition said “The tide comes in very quickly, but we need to spend as much time working as possible, so speed of travel and reliability are critical. We cannot risk machines being trapped. There is also a steep ramp providing access to the beach, so all machines have to have good gradeability. The Haulotte platforms meet these criteria and have proven their reliability. They are doing everything we expected without any problems. This is a harsh environment and tough on men and machine. “

Platform capacity was another critical consideration. Apart from the operator, each platform needs to carry sufficient oxygen and acetylene cylinders to allow for continuous working in the available window. In addition, each platform has to have fire extinguishes. These are essential as the inside of the ship is lined with bitumen to prevent corrosion. There is, therefore, the constant risk of fire from the heat and sparks of the cutting equipment.

“We have an improvised water tender, with pumps and hoses, on standby at all times as the risk of fire is extreme,” says Peter Cordwell, “and we have been able to contain quickly any incidents which have all been minor.”

Precision Working Essential

Being able to manipulate the platform smoothly and with precision allows the operators to place the basket at the most convenient position close to the ship's hull to make it as easy as possible for slicing through the steel plate, which can be up to 24 mm thick with the oxy-acetylene cutters.

The steel hull is being progressively cut into 1 ~ 2 t. pieces before being lowered onto an articulated dump truck by a heavy-duty tracked excavator.

“In specifying access platforms, we looked for versatility. We wanted to minimise travel of the platforms as much as possible,” explains Peter Cordwell. “The Haulotte machines, with their articulating booms and telescopic extension allow the operator to reach a large area without having to travel. And, although working on sand, they have also proved extremely stable, even when used to their maximum height.”

As the demolition works progress, the articulating boom allows each platform to reach into the ship to facilitate internal working.

The 7 t. Haulotte HA 16 PX has a maximum working height of 16 m and a maximum outreach of 9.1 m. Maximum travel speed is 5.5 km/h. Four-wheel drive and steer allows the platform to cope with the variable ground conditions and with a gradeability of 50%, even severe gradients are no problem. A load limiter in the basket prevents the operator from over-reaching. The zero-tail-swing design allows the platforms to work closely up against the ship's hull. So far, the machines have met every requirement of PGC Demolition.

PGC started the demolition in April 2008 and are on target to completely remove all traces of the ship by October 2008. Working under the watchful eye of the Coast Guards, who constantly monitor activities to ensure that there is no pollution of the beach, PGC is pleased with progress. “By the time we have finished, and scoured the beach with metal detectors to locate the smallest scraps of metal, there will be nothing to show that there was ever a ship on the beach”, says Peter Cordwell confidently.

World Leader In Access Platforms

With over 100 years experience in engineering solutions for the construction and other industries, the Haulotte Group started a major product diversification in 2003. Today the company is one of the world's leading manufacturers of access platform, scissor lifts, telescopic handlers and backhoe loaders with full rotation.

As well as extending its range of products, the Haulotte Group is developing the various customer support services to ensure that products deliver greater efficiency and productivity.

More photographs