The project required the replacement of two ship sets of gantry cranes and the supply of a bespoke anti-collision system, all for use in the handling of weapons, explosives and ammunition to and from landing craft within the vessels’ well docks; an area at the stern of the ship which lowers into the water to allow the landing craft to enter.
Budget restrictions called for a cost-effective solution, capable of overcoming the tilt of the well-dock and withstanding potentially turbulent ocean conditions, and which would meet all the necessary safety standards for the handling of munitions.
The two 4.5-tonne cranes are constructed from a number of extensively refurbished gantry cranes from the aircraft carrier HMS Ark Royal in order to keep costs down, whilst still meeting the stringent requirements of the MoD Tri-Services JSP 467 standard for the safe handling of weapons, ammunition and explosives, and are believed to have been the first of their type to do so.
A special protective coating protects against the harsh marine environment and prolongs service life. Parts that can’t be painted, such as the wheels, are stainless steel.