Understand the lift
Establish the load, radius, pick and set-down points, headroom, water depth and access before choosing the vessel.
Discuss a project ↗Crane & HIAB barge hire
Lift from the water.
Keep the site moving.
WHH provides operator-supported crane and HIAB barges for lifting, materials handling and constrained construction on canals and navigable rivers across the UK.
Floating lifting capability
Crane capacity.
Configured around the lift.
A crane barge is useful because it puts lifting capacity, working space and waterborne access in the same place.
The right arrangement depends on more than nominal crane capacity. Working radius, stability, water depth, headroom, deck or hold space, navigation and the route to site all influence which vessel and configuration will work in practice.
WHH can join the project early, develop the marine lifting arrangement and then provide the barge, supporting craft and experienced people needed for delivery.
Heavy lifting in restricted water
Put the lifting point
where the site needs it.
Our crane and HIAB barges range from compact road-mobilised craft to specialist heavy-lift configurations. They can provide a stable lifting platform where land cranes cannot reach, while also carrying materials, tools or temporary works to the workface.
Where required, the lifting barge works as part of a wider package with tugs, hoppers, pontoons, welfare and safety support.
Lifting · materials handling · floating access · project logistics
How we plan the operation
Start with the lift.
Then choose the craft.
Tell us the load, site, reach and programme. We will help establish the practical marine configuration.
Configure the barge
Match crane position, deck or hold space, stabilisation and supporting craft to the operation rather than treating the crane as a stand-alone hire item.
Plan mobilisation
Coordinate the route, loading point, assembly, towing or road transport and the sequence needed to establish the lifting platform at the workface.
Deliver the operation
Provide maintained lifting craft and experienced marine crews able to work around navigation, the principal contractor and changing site conditions.
More than lifting
Adapt the platform
around the operation.
On the River Lee, a HIAB barge was adapted with an auger so the same floating platform could reach the workface, create the post holes and handle the poles. That project-specific approach is typical of how WHH uses lifting craft.
View the River Lee case study →Typical applications
One lifting platform.
Many site roles.
- Materials and plant handling↗
- Bridge and structural works↗
- Piling and retaining-wall support↗
- Lock gate replacement↗
- Dredging and excavation support↗
- Posts, poles and waterside installations↗
- Towpath and utility works↗
Plan the lift early
Send us the load, radius, site and programme.
You do not need to specify a vessel. We can help identify the crane or HIAB barge configuration that fits the waterway and the operation.
Discuss a lifting operation ↗