An old PACECO G6 port crane is being dismantled in Tenerife.

In the port of Tenerife, dismantling of the old port crane has begun. It was the last of those operating in the La Candelaria container terminal. The crane is being dismantled because it is very worn out.

It was a PACECO G6 crane, model MARK. It has been in the Los Llanos dock since 1995, when the terminal was authorized to operate. But in 2011, the permit expired.

Such cranes are needed to load containers onto and off ships. They are metal, stand on rails and move along the pier. The crane has a boom that extends over the ship to reach the containers.

This PACECO G6 was 70 meters high when the boom was raised. It could lift up to 35 tons of cargo. The boom extended 35 meters to reach the cargo.

According to the head of the ports of Tenerife, Pedro Suárez, dismantling such a large crane is difficult. Therefore, everything was planned very carefully, with all safety measures. He added that the main thing is that nothing happens to the workers and the environment during dismantling.

First, the electricity and mechanisms will be disconnected. Then the metal parts will be dismantled, and care will be taken to ensure that everything is safe. The waste will be sorted and recycled.

Two cranes are involved in the work – a telescopic and a lattice crane. First, everything that is not part of the structure will be removed: the engine room, the container grab and the control cabin. It is important that the crane does not become unstable during dismantling.

The first to be removed will be four parts of the boom from the sea side, weighing 32 tons. Then – the finishing beam and the rear boom beams, which is another 38 tons. Finally, the rail beams on the ground will be removed.

The work is being carried out by Reciclajes y Demoliciones Industriales JM, S.L. It is planned to be completed by September 5. All this will cost 256,121.30 euros.