A LIEBHERR 550EC-H40 tower crane – the first of its kind in Qatar and one of five Liebherr tower cranes on Phase 1-A of the prestigious Musheireb project in the ‘Heart of Doha’ – was specified by the JV contractors for its ability for micro movement during beam placement and high lifting capacity.

The five Liebherr tower cranes are performing all lifting tasks on the project being carried out by a joint venture between the Hyundai Engineering and Construction Company and HBK Contracting Company.

The Musheireb project involves the development and regeneration of a 31-hectare site located in inner Doha, the capital’s historic centre. Originally called the ‘Heart of Doha’ project, the regeneration of old Doha includes Kahraba Street, the first street to receive electricity in Qatar, Abdulla Bin Thani Street, Musheireb Street and the first Eid Ground in Doha (see separate article).

The primary objective of the project is to reverse the pattern of development and growth of Doha in recent decades, which has tended towards isolated land uses with urban sprawl and heavy reliance on car transport.

Demolition of more than 220 buildings on the site was started in June 2009 and the construction contract for Phase 1-A was awarded to the Hyundai and HBK JV in April 2010 in a 25-month contract.

With much of the site adjacent to the Emir’s Diwan (Qatar’s seat of power and the Rulers palace), Phase 1-A will include a Diwan annexe, Amiri Guard headquarters, the national archives, a heritage quarter and four heritage houses.

Craneage duties
All five Liebherr tower cranes are on a 17-month rental from the United Equipment Rental fleet together with a sixth, a self-erecting 70K, to be installed shortly on-site.

The 550EC-H40 (HUH 56 m) is installed at the Diwan annexe site. Featuring a 71.5 m jib and a hook height of 66 m, the 550EC-H40 offers a maximum lifting capacity of up to 40 tonne and 5.7 tonne at jib length.

The other cranes currently on-site include the 280EC-H16 with a jib of 60 m (HUH 81 m), also engaged on the Diwan annexe; the 200EC-H10 with a 60-m jib (HUH 54 m) and the 280EC-H12 with a jib length of 55 m (HUH 44 m) both installed at the Amiri Guard headquarters site and the 280EC-H12 with a 75-m jib (HUH 71 m) engaged at the heritage buildings and the national archives site.

Working 24/7, the cranes are performing a variety of lifting duties involving concrete placement, rebar and steel beams.

The five-storey Diwan annexe features a steel beam roof structure incorporating nine major beams, each weighing up to 95 tonnes. Hence, steel elements weighing 15 to 20 tonnes will therefore need to be lifted and assembled in position. According to Muaz Ayoub, operations manager of United Equipment Group, the 550EC-H40 was selected for its ability to effect micro movement necessary for the lifting and accurate reassembly in-situ.

In supplying the rental fleet, United Equipment provided more than 100 detailed diagrams outlining specifications for the installation and operation of the Liebherr cranes. The JV contractors stated it had “never seen such depth of detail provided by a supplier.”

Throughout construction of the project’s infrastructure works contract – which includes a district cooling plant and 66 kV substation and was awarded to CAT Construction in March 2010 – a Liebherr self-erecting 44 K tower crane is being used.