The 100-ton structure, manufactured by the Spanish Society of Babcock & Wilcox Constructions, has evolved from a functional element into an aesthetic beacon within the Port-City project. After decades of service at Ribera 1 dock, the crane has undergone a meticulous rehabilitation, culminating in a display of chromatic sequences and LED technology.
The Port Authority entrusted the work to Talleres Milán, an Almerian company experienced in major challenges. The efforts not only focused on restoring its original aesthetics, preserving its wooden cabin and lattice jib, but also on complex structural reinforcement to transform it into a privileged viewpoint.
“"The process has been “a small odyssey."
One of the most critical moments was the crane's movement on the rails, a maneuver that required specialist intervention due to the machinery's mass. After five months of intense work, including anti-corrosion treatments and window replacement, the crane now stands as an iron and wood balcony suspended over the bay.
The final piece of this heritage restoration has been its lighting. Installed with great precision, the crane has been shining for a few days with a colorful program that enhances its silhouette against the night sky. This illuminated “Babcock & Wilcox” joins the shed and the Deutz locomotive, forming a living museum at the dockside and returning a piece of its history to citizens as a tourist attraction.
