Rights Managed > Historic England > Industry > Engineering and Construction > Graythorp - oil rigs
Erecting a crane JLP01_10_01067
Filename: jlp01_10_01067.jpg
Size: 4977 x 6339 (3.1MB)
Date: 15th November 2021
Source: Historic England
Credit: A© Historic England Archive. Joh
Copyright Status: Copyrighted Work
Source: Historic England Archive
Owner URL: https://images.historicenglandservices.org.uk/
© Historic England Archive. John Laing Photographic Collection
Wall Art and Photo Gifts from Historic England
Erecting a crane JLP01_10_01067
Graythorp, Hartlepool. The foundation tub for a second 509 Revolver crane being lifted on to a gantry at Graythorp.
In the early 1970s Laing Pipelines Offshore constructed the Graythorp fabrication yard and dry dock on the site of the old William Gray Shipyard. The company created a dry dock which was used for the construction of fixed platform North Sea drilling rigs for the BP North Sea Oil Project. By 1972, one thousand men were working on site to build a tubular structure which would support a drilling rig in the North Sea destined for the Forties Oilfield. The cranes on site at Graythorp included two 509 Revolver cranes, capable of lifting 813 tonnes, and six Manitowoc cranes imported from America
Historic England is the public body that champions and protects England's historic places
Media ID 24058964
© Historic England Archive. John Laing Photographic Collection
Construction Crane Dry Dock Industry Marine Engineering Works Oil Industry Heavy Industry
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EDITORS COMMENTS
This print captures a significant moment in the construction of the Graythorp fabrication yard and dry dock in Hartlepool. The image showcases the precise and intricate process of erecting a crane, specifically the foundation tub for a second 509 Revolver crane. As it is lifted onto a gantry, one can almost feel the weight and magnitude of this crucial component. During the early 1970s, Laing Pipelines Offshore undertook an ambitious project to construct this facility on the grounds of the old William Gray Shipyard. This site would play a vital role in supporting offshore drilling operations for BP's North Sea Oil Project. With over one thousand men tirelessly working on-site, they built an impressive tubular structure that would serve as a sturdy foundation for drilling rigs destined for Forties Oilfield. The cranes featured at Graythorp were truly remarkable pieces of engineering marvel. Alongside two powerful 509 Revolver cranes capable of lifting an astonishing 813 tonnes each, six Manitowoc cranes imported from America also stood tall on this industrial landscape. This photograph not only highlights the immense scale and complexity involved in constructing such facilities but also pays homage to those who dedicated their skills and hard work to make it all possible. It serves as a testament to human ingenuity within heavy industry and marine engineering works during that era.
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