Big Carl: World's largest crane begins work in Somerset

The world's largest crane has arrived in the UK to begin work on the nuclear power station at Hinkley Point.

Standing at 656ft (250m) tall, the crane is one of the tallest man-made structures in the West Country.

Hinkley Point: World's largest crane begins work in Somerset

12 September 2019
BBC News


The largest crane in the world is now operating in Somerset at Hinkley Point C

The world's largest crane has arrived in the UK to begin work on the nuclear power station at Hinkley Point.

Standing at 656ft (250m) tall, the crane is one of the tallest man-made structures in the West Country.

The massive crane is known as Big Carl, after Carl Sarens, the father of the Belgian family business which made it.

Able to carry 5,000 tonnes in a single lift, Big Carl is expected to be at Hinkley, in Somerset, for the next four years.


The crane can reach higher than the tallest tower at London's Canary Wharf


Big Carl is five times the height of Somerset's Wells Cathedral


It will be used to lift huge sections of the nuclear power station into place, including the roof of the reactor




Big Carl is expected to be at Hinkley for the next four years





https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-somerset-49673561

Hoid said:

there is something discomforting about British nuclear power plants

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Why? Has there been a major disaster at one in the past?

In fact, throughout history, only a handful of people in the entire world have ever been killed in nuclear power plant disasters.

Walter said:

Relative to other power sources nuclear has the fewest deaths associated to it.

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The world's worst nuclear disaster killed only 54 people.

The second-worst, Fukushima, killed just one person.

taxslave said:

What about long term effects? There is far more downstream effects from a nuke plant than water or even coal.

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It's a waste of time making comparisons to other industries. The fact is that nuclear is safe.

Needless to say, Britain actually invented the nuclear power station. The world's first nuclear power plant was Calder Hall, opened by the Queen in October 1956. In 63 years, there has never been a major disaster at a British nuclear power plant.

Curious Cdn said:

"Big Carl"
Must have been built by the Germans.
Krupp of Essen?

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Somebody didn't read the article...

Curious Cdn said:

Sorry.
Built by the Flems.
I knew that it couldn't have been the British.

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Even though Britain is a bigger manufacturing nation than Belgium (and Canada). Nice bit of logic there...