NEWS | Contractor appointed to restore Hull’s last remaining 20th century Scotch Derrick crane

A decision record published by Hull City Council on 25 August confirms the appointment of Mona Lifting & Engineering.

Mona Lifting & Engineering will dismantle the crane into sections in autumn 2021 and take it away to undertake the conservation work, retaining the historical detail and significance of Hull’s last Scotch Derrick Crane.

Mona Lifting & Engineering have recently completed the industrial heritage project Great Crakehall Footbridge for North Yorkshire County Council and the refurbishment of heritage hydraulic equipment at dams.

Once complete the historic piece will return to a new location within the North End Shipyard site as part of ambitious plans to rejuvenate this part of the riverside and create a new visitor attraction for the city. The crane will be given a new lease of life, thanks to funding from The National Lottery Heritage Fund and Hull City Council as part of the Hull Maritime project.

The 18 tonne Scotch Derrick crane, sometimes known as a stiff leg derrick, is located at the North End Shipyard. The dry dock will become the permanent home of the Arctic Corsair along with a new visitor centre.

The crane is a rare survivor from the hard-working River Hull, reflecting the active shipbuilding that continued in this area into the 1990s, the crane will be restored and relocated for visitors to appreciate for years to come.

Councillor Daren Hale, Leader of Hull City Council, said: “We are delighted to appoint Mona Lifting to conserve, repair and restore this disused crane, enabling it to become a visitor attraction in its own right at the North End Shipyard.

“The last remaining 20^th century Scotch Derrick crane is a key symbol of recent maritime past and vital it’s retained as a heritage feature for future generations to discover more about its significance and the role it played.”

Work to dismantle and remove the 18-tonne crane is expected to get underway in the coming months.

Thanks to funding from Hull City Council and The National Lottery Heritage Fund significant improvements will be made to three important sites: the Maritime Museum; the Dock Office Chambers and the North End Shipyard and two ships – the Arctic Corsair and Spurn Lightship.