Fairfield Titan


The Fairfield Titan was a giant cantilever crane at BAE Systems' Govan shipyard, and the largest such crane on the River Clyde until it was demolished in 2007.

History

The crane was built by Sir [William Arrol & Co.] at the Fairfield Shipbuilding and [Engineering Company] yard in 1911, and was first used to install machinery in HMS [New Zealand (1911)].
The Titan was last used six weeks before its demolition, assembling a Type 45 destroyer. Despite being category A listed, permission was granted for its removal as it was hindering development of the yard, and it was dismantled over a period of three weeks and recycled.
The crane features in the song Shipyard Apprentice by Scottish traditional music group Battlefield Band.

Design

The original tested capacity was uprated to , and then later derated to. Two electric motors powered the main hoist, and a motor actuated an auxiliary hoist to allow loads of up to to be lifted at the maximum radius of.