French port commissions shiplift

The Port of Cherbourg in France has formally commissioned a new shiplift. It hopes this will enable it to win maintenance and repair work on high-speed craft. Dimensioned to accommodate catamarans, the shiplift is 90m by 32m and is also capable of handling a wide range of other craft. It has a capacity of 50t per linear metre along its centreline. The 14 lifting stations are fitted with Synchrolift electromechanical winches. Transfer to land is carried out using trucks on trolleys, with six railway lines designed for use with a range of vessels, both monohulls and catamarans.