Allelys were contracted to transport two historic boats from the Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm Museum in Yeovilton to the Explosion Museum of Naval Firepower in Gosport.
MTB 71 is a Motor Torpedo Boat weighing 15te, and is said to be the last wartime motor torpedo boat of its kind in existence. Measuring 18.1m (l) x 4.6m (w) x 3.9m (h), it’s the largest of the two and required to be transported under Police escort. CMB 331 measures 17m (l) x 3.5m (w) x 3.3m (h), weighs 15te and is the last surviving Thornycroft 55 foot Coastal Motor Boat.
The boats were being stored on frames, so Allelys used these frames to jack up the vessels using climbing jacks. They were then transported using 4 axle Goldhofer extendable trailers. Once on site, the boats were jacked up off the trailers, lowered onto skates, where they were then skated into the building to their final positions.
In addition, Allelys also transported ancillary equipment for the vessels. The equipment, which included the bridges that were removed to reduce the height during transport, were lifted by a 15te capacity Franna crane onto the curtainsider for transport.
“Allelys are involved with projects across a wide range of sectors, but it is always great to be involved in a project like this where the loads being transported have so much history,” explains Zac Smout, Project Manager at Allelys.
“Delivering them to the Explosion Museum of Naval Firepower means that they can now be on display for the public to enjoy too.”
