Harland and Wolff: What will happen to Belfast's yellow cranes?


The Harland and Wolff shipyard in Belfast is home to two iconic yellow cranes, affectionately known as Samson and Goliath. These cranes are an integral part of Belfast’s skyline and have become a symbol of the city. The shipyard was once the world’s largest builder of ocean liners, but it has struggled in recent times and has recently gone into administration for the second time in five years.

Despite the shipyard’s uncertain future, the cranes are considered to be monuments in their own right and are likely to remain regardless of what happens to the business. Although they were a relatively late addition to the shipyard, they have become an essential part of Belfast’s culture and history. Since their construction, tourists and locals alike have been able to see the cranes on merchandise ranging from plant pots and keyrings to socks and hot sauce.

Samson and Goliath are gantry cranes designed to straddle and overlook their workspace. They were built by Harland and Wolff engineers and Krupps and were completed in 1969 and 1974, respectively. Despite not playing a role in the construction of the Titanic, which is perhaps the shipyard’s most famous ship, the cranes have become synonymous with the shipyard itself.

The cranes have been officially recognized as scheduled monuments since 2003. This means that any proposal to alter or remove the cranes would require consent from Stormont’s Department for Communities. Experts say that while the cranes are worth preserving, it remains unclear how they will be used in the future. Some have suggested that they could become tourist attractions, while others believe that they could continue to be used as industrial assets. Regardless of their future use, the cranes will always hold a special place in the hearts of Belfast’s residents

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