A Liebherr mobile construction crane has been used to help protect historic fountains on Herreninsel, the largest island in Lake Chiemsee in Bavaria, Germany.
Each year before winter, the palace gardens on the island prepare their large fountain sculptures for cold weather. Protective scaffolding structures covered with weatherproof tarpaulins are installed to prevent damage from frost and snow. These coverings are removed again in spring so the fountains can return to operation for visitors.
Last autumn, BKL Baukran Logistik GmbH transported a Liebherr MK 88-4.1E mobile construction crane to the island to carry out the work. The journey began before sunrise, with the four-axle crane loaded onto a cargo ferry for the short trip across the lake. After arriving on Herreninsel, it continued to the park surrounding Herrenchiemsee Palace, built by King Ludwig II.
At the site, scaffolders were ready with pre-assembled components for installation. The MK 88-4.1E was selected for its lifting capabilities and precision.
“Compared to a small mobile crane, the MK 88-4.1E offers us a significantly greater hook height. In combination with trolley travel, the scaffolding components can be lowered precisely over the delicate figure fountains, which are up to 13 metres high, and navigated even more easily on long slings than with a conventional, luffing telescopic boom,” said Christian Hofmann, project manager at Westermaier GmbH.
The fountains are located within large, drained basins, requiring the crane to operate from outside the installations with a reach of around 25 metres. The crane’s 45-metre horizontal jib and variable steep positions allow for hook heights of more than 59 metres, providing the necessary range for the job.
The crane was repositioned once between the two fountain sites, with the move completed in about 30 minutes. Work then continued on the second fountain.
Once the scaffolding was in place, the crane lifted large plastic tarpaulins onto the structures. These coverings protect the historic figures and technical components of the fountains during winter.
The crane’s raised cab, positioned around 20 metres high, gave operator Drago a clear view of the work area and the palace surroundings. A hook camera on the trolley provided a direct view of the load, allowing precise placement in line with instructions from the ground crew.
By late afternoon, both fountains were fully covered for winter. The crane was then folded down and transported back to the mainland by cargo ferry, completing the same route it had taken earlier in the day.
