Raising High-Voltage Transmission Lines to Accommodate 151-ft-tall Cranes

On March 29, 2018, two massive neo-Panamax cranes made their way up the Cape Fear River. They were concluding a two-month-long journey from China to the Port of Wilmington. And their safe passage required raising two high-voltage transmission lines to accommodate their 151-ft height.

Planning for the crane delivery took eight months. It involved a team of experts in water safety, ship piloting, surveying, engineering, security and meteorology. McKim & Creed was charged with ensuring the transmission lines were raised high enough that the cranes could pass under them.

On the day the cranes cruised into Wilmington, there was “no room for error,” recalls David Jones, PLS, CFS, regional manager with McKim & Creed. “It was an anxious moment for everyone.”

Click the image to the left to learn more about how McKim & Creed helped ensure safe passage of these multi-million dollar cranes, and what they mean to the Port of Wilmington.