A dedicated roll-on, roll-off ferry terminal with two berths close to London’s motorway network was not attracting sufficient cargo and urgent modifications were needed to enable lift on/off container handling for a lucrative short-term contract. This was achieved rapidly by providing a floating quay with two mobile container cranes.

Beckett Rankine developed the innovative concept of introducing floating container handling cranes at the river berth. Advice was also provided on the procurement of the pontoon, which was purchased, the leasing of cranes and the detailed design of steelwork and other modifications.

The two Gottwald cranes each had a capacity to lift 27 tonne at a 40 metre radius and when fitted with suitable spreaders could handle 22 containers per hour. When working together their individual capacities were somewhat lower because of the slight movement to the pontoon caused by the other crane.