Sydney City Marine mega-lift appeals to superyachts

by Jeni Bone on 21 Oct 2009 Sydney City Marine is in the throes of welcoming what will be the largest lift on the east coast – the 800 tonne lift that has been especially designed to carry superyachts and massive charter vessels.

Stuart Dodds, Facility and Marketing Manager at Sydney City Marine, says that the introduction of the lift will attract more business to the facility.

'We hope to get charter vessels in for their yearly survey and regular maintenance, as well as the superyachts for major refits. We are now able to pull them out and put them undercover in a safe environment while work is undertaken.'

The lift is a combined effort in terms of design and construction. SAM technology, an Australian company, designed and built the winches, Spartan Steel and Sydney City Marine designed and built the platform, while the computer system which enables levelling was imported from Germany.

The cost of the lift is 'more than $2m', according to Dodds, and involved complicated preparation prior to installation. 'Dredging had to be carried out. 1800 tonnes of silt were removed to ensure there was sufficient depth, then a concrete liner (like a swimming pool) was constructed beneath it.'

Since opening in April 2009, Sydney City Marine has proven popular with commercial and leisure craft, as well as extending its usage beyond the marine realm.

'Our paintsheds are the largest in Australia. We are able to spray trucks and cranes without having to dismantle them.'

Watch this space for updates on the mega-lift!

More at www.sydneycitymarine.com.au