J3474 : Chimney and cranes, Belfast

taken 10 years ago, near to Belfast, Co Antrim, Northern Ireland

Chimney and cranes, Belfast
Chimney and cranes, Belfast
The Sirocco chimney J3474 : The Sirocco chimney, Belfast (2) now standing alone in the vacant Sirocco Quays site alongside the Lagan walkway in Belfast - note the man on the bench who is probably enjoying some fine afternoon sunshine during his lunch break. In the background are the gantry cranes 'Samson' and 'Goliath' (nearest) with the 'Blackford Dolphin' still being worked on in the dry dock beyond.
The Harland and Wolff Building Dock, Belfast :: J3575

The building dock in Belfast was constructed between 1968-1970 by George Wimpey & Company for the Harland and Wolff shipyard in Belfast. A massive 556 metres long by 93 metres wide, it was designed for the construction of massive crude oil tankers and bulkers. Although many ships were constructed here, including two supertankers of 172,174 tonnes (343,423 DWT), the yard was in decline by the early 1970s and the dock never really fulfilled its potential. The last ship to be constructed was the 'Anvil Point' in 2003 and the yard now specialising in ship repair and the emerging renewable energies sector, notably offshore wind turbines and tidal energy projects.
Towering above the dock are the two gantry cranes 'Samson' and 'Goliath'. Now landmarks on the Belfast skyline, the cranes were designed for the yard by the German firm Krupp. Goliath, completed in 1969 and mostly fabricated by the yard, stands at 96 metres and Samson, completed in 1974 and built entirely by Krupp, is taller at 106 metres. Both cranes have a span of 140m and have a safe working load of 840 tonnes each (though I believe were tested for 1,000 which caused the top girders to bend downwards by some 11 inches). They run on 800m of track which spans the length of the dock and each crane has 64 special anti-friction bearing mounted wheels.
Both the dock and the cranes are now protected scheduled monuments. See LinkExternal link for technical information .

LinkExternal link in an informative video from the BBC.

Belfast Waterfront (formerly Sirocco Quays) development

Sirocco Quays is a redevelopment of the old Davison’s Sirocco Engineering Works bounded by Short Strand, Bridge End and the Lagan. The site extends to 16 acres and the entire project is expected to take some 10 years to complete. It is intended to include 2,000 apartments, a hotel, supermarket and other shops, offices, leisure facilities, a care home for the elderly, doctor’s surgery and open space.

Note added 28 September 2011. There has not been any progress on the scheme. An administrator was appointed to the development company.

Amendment 27 May 2018. With the site, sold the new owner’s proposals for the future development of the site are starting to emerge. Re-named from Sirocco Quays to “Belfast Waterside”.
The developer’s website comments “Earlier this year, Swinford (Sirocco) Ltd unveiled new plans for the £400 million regeneration of the riverfront site. Following extensive consultation with communities and other city stakeholders, a new masterplan application is being proposed: Emphasising the opportunity of the riverfront with new piers, pontoons and moorings for leisure activities. Introducing new uses for community and cultural space, alongside plans for a hotel, cafes, bars, retail and restaurants. Reducing overall heights across the site, with lower buildings by the riverfront and chimney. Connecting the East Bank into the City Centre Proposals for the 16-acre site will include a landmark pedestrian and cycle footbridge creating a new connection from the city core to the east of the city. The bridge and masterplan will emphasise the re-integration of the East Bank with the rest of the city. In so doing it will help to link the whole East Belfast community with the city centre”.
There is now the following application (16 February 2018) for planning permission “LA04/2018/0448/F Erection of 13 storey Grade A office building with ground floor and mezzanine café/bar/restaurant uses (sui generis), lobby/reception area, basement and deck car parking, servicing (refuse/recycling/cycle storage/changing facilities), landscaping/public realm works, introduction of temporary pedestrian/cycle access to riverfront, associated access arrangements to Short Strand and Bridge End and other associated infrastructural works Lands at former Sirocco Works Short Strand and adjacent to Bridge End and the River Lagan Belfast”.

“14 Aug 2018 Two major new Belfast office developments worth a combined £70 million received the green light from Belfast City Council’s Planning Committee this evening.
Members approved proposals for the £50m first phase of the landmark Belfast Waterside development and the £20m 11-storey Graham House development on Albert Square in the city centre.
 The Belfast Waterside 28,476 sqm Grade A office scheme will bring an initial £50m investment and deliver the first major employment activity at the former Howden Sirocco site in almost 20 years, accommodating up to 2,500 employees.
A 13 storey office accommodation building, including a retail unit on the ground floor alongside café and restaurant units, will be the first step in creating modern workspace for 11.5 per cent of the 46,000 new jobs that Belfast City Council is seeking to create by 2035 as part of the Belfast Agenda. The plan also includes landscaping and public realm works, a pocket park and pedestrian and cycle access” - Belfast City Council statement. This approval does not appear (16 March 2019) on the NI Planning Portal.

My photographs appear as a matter of neutral record only. I have no connection with the site, developer or any group opposed to the development and have no opinion about its future. I cannot enter into correspondence.

The 'Blackford Dolphin' at Belfast

The 'Blackford Dolphin' LinkExternal link is a huge offshore drilling rig. It was towed from off the coast of Brazil to Belfast for a refit at Harland and Wolff LinkExternal link . This is a series of pictures of the rig prior to and during dry-docking at the yard. It docked on Monday 2nd December 2013 and departed on Tuesday 17th June 2014.

Creative Commons Licence [Some Rights Reserved]   © Copyright Rossographer and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence.
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J3474, 4349 images   (more nearby search)
Photographer
Date Taken
Tuesday, 3 June, 2014   (more nearby)
Submitted
Wednesday, 4 June, 2014
Geographical Context
Coastal  Historic sites and artefacts  Paths  City, Town centre  Industry  Air, Sky, Weather  Canals 
Place (from Tags)
Belfast 
River (from Tags)
Lagan 
Subject Location
Irish: geotagged! J 348 741 [100m precision]
WGS84: 54:35.8669N 5:54.9023W
Camera Location
Irish: geotagged! J 347 740
View Direction
Northeast (about 45 degrees)
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Other Tags
Belfast  Lagan Walkway  Sirocco  Sirocco Works  Harland and Wolff  Samson  Goliath  Goliath Crane  Blackford Dolphin 

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