The manoeuvre has seen two of Marr Contracting’s M2480D Heavy Lift Luffer (HLL) cranes, which at 600 tonnes weigh more than an A380, lifted in one piece onto the Dardanelles – the first time a crane of this size has been lifted fully-assembled, to begin construction on the world’s longest span suspension bridge, the 1915 Canakkale Bridge.
Once construction gets underway, Marr’s unique crane is going to revolutionise the way bridges are built (by lifting heavier modularised components instead of the more traditional approach of lifting smaller components one-by-one).
While the Men from Marr’s is a true family business, everyone who has worked at the company over the past 90 years is considered part of the family and connected through a strong bond of mateship, tradition and a shared love of cranes.
Marr Contracting Managing Director, Simon Marr, (one of two brothers who run the family business) said: “The sheer lifting power of Marr’s M2480D HLL is a game changer for this project and could forever change the way our industry looks at building bridges.
“This is an exciting project for us, not just in engineering terms but emotionally and culturally as well. Gallipoli holds a unique place in the heart and psyche of both the Australian and Turkish people, and for us to work alongside Turkish engineers and construction teams on building this significant legacy project 100 years after WWI, is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”