BKL protects historic royal fountains

Crane rental and logistics service provider BKL Baukran Logistik used a Liebherr LTM 1060-3.1 wheeled mobile crane to erect scaffold hoods over three fountains at Herrenchiemsee New Palace in Germany.

BKL had to transport the crane by ferry to reach the palace located on Herreninsel, the largest island in Lake Chiemsee in southern Bavaria.

The hoods, which are placed over the fountains every year for winter, are designed to protect them from damage caused by frost and snow.

Made of metal scaffolding, the 2 tonne hood frames had to be hoisted above the fountains, which measured up to 13 metres in height.

BKL used the crane with the boom extended to 45 metres and lowered the scaffold hoods from a suspended position. Once the scaffold hoods were in place they were secured to the fountains using connective elements that had already been fitted.

Plastic tarpaulins attached to the apex of the scaffold frames were then secured to the bases to complete the fountains’ protective winter domes.

The historic fountains are original features of Herrenchiemsee palace, which was modelled on the Palace of Versaille in France. Construction began in 1873 but was still not complete when King Ludwig II died in 1886.