It’s time to name Canada’s largest gantry crane that now sits at the foot of Pemberton Avenue.
Seaspan’s new 300-tonne crane arrived at Vancouver Shipyards by barge in late-February.
It was shipped from China on a deep sea ship in three large pieces — the fixed leg, hinged leg and main girder — along with thousands of smaller components to Fraser Surrey Docks before being offloaded and transported to Seaspan at North Vancouver’s waterfront.
At 80 metres high and spanning 76 metres wide, it’s the largest in Canada.
North Vancouver students in Grades 4 to 7 are coming up with a name for the crane, which will help deliver non-combat vessels for the Royal Canadian Navy and Canadian Coast Guard.
The winner of the contest will have his or her name permanently etched onto the crane.
While Seaspan isn’t picky about where the name comes from, spokesman Jeff Taylor says there needs to be meaning behind it.
“The name should be two words or less and then the students will tell us why they chose it,†he tells The Outlook.
Roughly 4,000 students from 25 schools across North Van are taking part in the contest.
An intricate part of Vancouver Shipyard’s $200-million modernization project, the crane is scheduled to be working by this summer. The overall two-year project began in October 2012 and is slated to be finished in the fall.
“No construction project is complete without creative inspiration, and I personally can’t want to see some of the great names that are sure to be submitted,†said Brian Carter, president of Seaspan Shipyards, adding the crane is the latest landmark in the National Shipbuilding Procurement Strategy, an effort by the federal government to increase the number of navy and coast guard ships built in Canada.
Students must have their crane names in by March 14. The grand prize, which includes an iPad Air, will be presented during an official naming ceremony at Seaspan. Entry forms are available at seaspan.com in the News & Media section.
- by  Michaela Garstin – North Shore Outlook
- posted Mar 5, 2014 at 9:00 AM
The main girder of Seaspan’s 300-tonne crane arrives at Vancouver Shipyards late last month.— Image Credit: Submitted
