Dart Harbour, a Trust Port in South Devon, UK, has taken delivery of a brand-new hydraulic knuckle boom crane, supplied by Marine Cranes, Southampton, as part of its ongoing investment in maintaining and improving harbour operations.
The new crane will enhance the harbour’s operational capability, supporting a wide range of activities while ensuring safe and efficient handling for both staff and harbour users.
The TMP 320K knuckle boom crane, designed and manufactured by Danish manufacturer TMP Hydraulik has been installed on Tardis, Dart Harbour’s 6m x 4m dumb barge, ensuring she remains fully equipped for essential maintenance tasks across the River Dart. The replacement provides the harbour team with continued efficiency, safety, and reliability in daily operations.
Tardis plays a key role in harbour works including maintaining moorings, pontoons, navigation marks, and anchor legs in one of the busiest harbours on the South Coast. As a dumb barge, she is positioned using harbour push boat Ariadne. With the crane in service, the harbour team can continue carrying out inspections, lifting operations, and the upkeep of vital infrastructure throughout the estuary.
Matt Stephens, Assistant Harbour Master, said, “With the new crane now in place, Tardis is ready to tackle the daily demands of looking after the Dart. It helps us carry out essential maintenance safely and effectively, keeping the river’s infrastructure in good shape for everyone who depends on it”.
Ben Pym, Managing Director at Marine Cranes, said, “We were proud to support Dart Harbour with the delivery of their new TMP 320K crane. The existing unit had reached the end of its service life, and working alongside our trusted partners at TMP, we were able to provide a lighter, more efficient solution with enhanced lifting capacity.
With a tight manufacturing schedule aligned to the vessel’s refit timeline, our team worked diligently to ensure the crane was delivered and installed within just 10 weeks. This enabled the Tardis to proceed with her autumn maintenance programme without delay.”
The new crane, at only 495kg in weight can lift up to 1700kg, with a reach of near 500kg at 5.7m, providing significant versatility. Tardis also has a 1000kg deck winch, boosting the team’s capacity for heavy-duty marine work while keeping within strict safe working limits.
This investment is part of Dart Harbour’s long-term commitment to responsibly managing the Dart Estuary.
About Dart Harbour:
As a trust port and statutory harbour authority, Dart Harbour operates as an independent, non-profit organisation, reinvesting in the upkeep and improvement of one of the UK’s most beautiful and historic waterways for the benefit of all stakeholders and future generations. visit: www.dartharbour.org
