The Moselle, with a length of 544 km the second longest tributary of the Rhine, plays a decisive role as an international waterway. 28 barrages enable inland waterway vessels to make smooth progress. However, the failure of a lock, as in December 2024, represents a significant disruption to inland traffic. In order to act quickly and efficiently in this critical situation, the Mosel-Saar-Lahn Waterways and Shipping Authority (WSA) has had a framework agreement with the Trier-based crane rental expert Steil for years. Thanks to this cooperation and state-of-the-art Liebherr technology, the damaged gate could be salvaged and a new one installed. In the meantime, a Liebherr mobile crane played the main role in the emergency lock-out of 74 ships stuck on the Moselle.
Ehingen (Donau) (Germany), February 17, 2025 - The Moselle, 384 km of which is navigable, is not only known for its scenic attractions and excellent vineyards. Since December 8, 2024, it has also made headlines in terms of inland shipping and logistics. When an inland waterway vessel severely damaged the Müden lock due to a drive failure.
As a result, 74 ships were unable to continue their journey, just before Christmas. The WSA Mosel-Saar-Lahn solved the problem with its long-standing crane partner Steil Kranarbeiten GmbH & Co. KG from Trier, who immediately ordered an LTM 1200-5.1 to the Müden lock. The LTM 1650-8.1 had already recovered the damaged gate. With the help of a so-called "dam beam", which are simple steel segments that are inserted into the locks during maintenance work, the Liebherr 200-tonne crane was able to perform an emergency lockage. The Steil team was working around the clock and all the bargemen were actually with their families for Christmas.
As a result, the lock was closed and, as Ulrich Zwinge from WSA Mosel-Saar-Lahn emphasizes, a so-called replacement gate was refurbished to fit. Replacement gates are kept in stock in Trier, which are adapted with hydraulic and electrical equipment depending on their use in the special lock. This work began immediately. The two gates for the Müden lock were completed in a record time of just seven weeks.
Gate leaves weighing 45 tons installed
On January 24, 2025, the time had come. Steil arrived with the "big equipment", the eight-axle Liebherr LTM 1650-8.1 with a 52 m boom, which was working in a wind farm a few kilometres from Müden. The logistics on site were complicated. The two 45-tonne gate wings were transported to the top of the lock on a WSV push unit and loaded onto a five-axle platform trailer by a 220-tonne crane.
The articulated lorry then reversed 200 meters to the installation site, where the LTM 1650-8.1 first set up the gate from horizontal to vertical and then lifted it into the installation position. The gate had to be held there until the neck bearings were connected. With a radius of 18.5 m, this was no real challenge for the yellow muscleman. The mobile crane was equipped with 75 tonnes of ballast and the four-tonne hook block was reeved five times. Crane operator Torsten Schneider was able to direct the machine to the site as quickly as possible because work was being carried out on a wind farm in the immediate vicinity and the LTM 1650-8.1 was therefore available at short notice. Schneider praises his machine as a crane that is particularly easy to set up and can be used quickly even in confined spaces.
Various equipment features prompted the management team consisting of Birgit and Christopher Steil and Daniel Gödert to purchase two of these cranes. One is the VarioBase® variable support base, which allows the crane to be operated safely even in very confined spaces and also to achieve very high lifting capacities. Just as important is the VarioBallast® for flexible ballasting in difficult spatial situations.
There was no shortage of space at the Müden lock, so the maximum support base of 10,531 x 9,578 mm was used. Nevertheless, setting up the 96-tonne monster was challenging, as all the counterweights had to be "passed" over the front of the crane, which extended the set-up time to 3.5 hours. "Normally," says Torsten Schröder, "the crane is ready to lift in 1.5 hours."
In the end, the two lifts, including all the ancillary work, were completed by midday and the Steil team was able to set off for the weekend. Ulrich Zwinge from the WSA estimates another week for fine-tuning and programming in Müden. The Müden lock went back into regular operation at the end of the first week of February. Incidentally, the crane operation even made it into the daily news.
About Steil Kranarbeiten
Steil Kranarbeiten is a sought-after specialist for crane work in the greater Trier area, in nearby France and in Luxembourg. The company was founded in 1924 by Michael Steil. Today, the family business employs around 300 people and operates a fleet of 100 cranes with lifting capacities of up to 800 tonnes. The most powerful telescopic crane is the Liebherr LM1650-8.1. In addition to the headquarters in Trier, the company has six branches. The company has been represented in Frisange/Luxembourg since 2002. The long-established company is an innovative partner for lifting and moving heavy loads, heavy haulage, industrial relocation and recovery. The construction, energy and chemical industries as well as plant manufacturers rely on the characteristic yellow/black cranes.
About Liebherr-Werk Ehingen GmbH
Liebherr-Werk Ehingen GmbH is a leading manufacturer of mobile and crawler cranes. Its range of mobile cranes extends from 2-axle 35 tonne cranes to heavy duty cranes with a lifting capacity of 1200 tonnes and a 9-axle chassis. Its lattice boom cranes on mobile or crawler travel gear deliver lifting capacities of up to 3000 tonnes. With universal boom systems and extensive additional equipment, they can be seen in action on construction sites throughout the world. The Ehingen site has a workforce of 5,000. An extensive, global service network guarantees the high availability of Liebherr mobile and crawler cranes. In 2023, the Liebherr plant in Ehingen recorded a turnover of 2.81 billion euros.
About the Liebherr Group
The Liebherr Group is a family-run technology company with a highly diversified product programme. The company is one of the largest construction equipment manufacturers in the world. It also provides high-quality, user-oriented products and services in a wide range of other areas. The Liebherr Group includes over 150 companies across all continents. In 2023, it employed more than 50,000 staff and achieved combined revenues of over 14 billion euros. Liebherr was founded by Hans Liebherr in 1949 in the southern German town of Kirchdorf an der Iller. Since then, the employees have been pursuing the goal of achieving continuous technological innovation, and bringing industry-leading solutions to its customers.
Kontakt
Wolfgang Beringer
Marketing and Communication
Telefon: +49 7391/502 - 3663
E-Mail: wolfgang.beringer@liebherr.com
Veröffentlicht von
Liebherr-Werk Ehingen GmbH
Ehingen (Donau) / Deutschland
www.liebherr.com
