Oban Linkspan

The project involved the off-site fabrication, transportation and on-site installation of a replacement linkspan structure for the No1 roll-on roll-off ferry berth at the busy port of Oban in the West Highlands from where the essential lifeline ferries service both the Hebridean Islands off the west coast.

Sectional off-site steelwork fabrication was carried out with the components taken by road to Westway Quay on the River Cart for final assembly and painting.

Onward transportation to Oban was undertaken by MV Lara 1 (formerly the Mersey Mammoth) – one of the largest crane-ships in Europe – in and out of the Cart, involving two openings of the iconic Bascule Bridge, to upload the fully assembled 80t structure, all within a two-hour window on the High Spring Tide.

All the on-site work at Oban was carried out within the live ferry terminal during a planned 3 week closure of No 1 linkspan and involved refurbishment of the lifting beams & hockey stick supports together with shot-blasting and re-painting of the steelwork prior to the arrival of the new structure.

Connection & commissioning of the new hydraulics and electrical systems followed the installation of the structure with all the onsite work completed to allow the facility to be handed back to the port operator four days ahead of schedule.