ALE Heavy Lift has recently completed the landmark relocation of one of only two full-size replicas of Captain James Cook's ship, HMS Endeavour, the bark commanded by Cook when he charted New Zealand and discovered the eastern coast of Australi
ALE was contracted to transport the 274-tonne vessel from its berth at Stockton-on-Tees to the Tees Barrage, in the north east of England.
The company oversaw the ballasting and engineering designs, specialist towing to and from the barrage, as well as the crane lift over the Tees Barrage gates.
The journey began with two tugs, which towed the vessel on the River Tees from Riverside in Stockton to the Tees Barrage.
Since the channel at the Tees Barrage lock gates narrows to just 6 m, ALE specialists had to implement a two-day programme to lift it over.
A team of divers fitted lifting equipment and straps underneath the hull of the vessel, before a 750-tonne crawler crane with a 63 m-long boom and 42 m back mast lifted the vessel by 5 m, to clear the top of the lock.
The vessel was then lowered on the other side, and will now be towed downstream to the drydock, where ship repair specialist A&P, will carry out refurbishment.
After refurbishment, the vessel will be towed to Whitby, where it is scheduled to re-open as a visitor attraction and centre of learning for schools.
