Harbour Crane Renovation at the Port of Aarhus

Cranes are vital assets at a port, lifting heavy cargo over the quay to ensure it reaches its destination. With thousands of lifts every year and a location exposed to saltwater, the cranes at the Port of Aarhus require thorough inspections and maintenance.

In the summer of 2024, BMS carried out a major renovation of one of the port’s bulk cranes. To access the slewing ring in the center, the upper part of the crane had to be dismantled. After considering several options, it was decided to remove the crane’s top.

Due to the crane’s weight of 460 tonnes and limited space, three large cranes were used: a Liebherr LTM 1500-8.1 and a Liebherr LTM 1750-9.1 mobile crane from BMS Krangården, and a 1,350-tonne Liebherr LR 11350 crawler crane supplied by BMS Heavy Cranes.

After setup, the crane top was carefully lifted while another harbour crane removed the undercarriage along the quay. The top was lowered to the ground overnight while the slewing ring was replaced. As no unexpected damage occurred, the top was lifted back into place the following morning. Finally, the undercarriage was pushed back, and the two parts were reassembled with high precision.

The Port of Aarhus has evolved since its founding in 1845 to become Denmark’s largest commercial port. In 2023, nearly 7,000 ships visited, and more than 10 million tonnes of cargo were handled. About 200 companies operate within the port area, creating over 17,000 jobs nationwide. According to the Confederation of Danish Industry, up to 10% of Denmark’s foreign trade passes through the Port of Aarhus.