The dismantling operation began on Tuesday. Not maintained since its end of activity in 1967, the Black Crane of the Chantenay district, in Nantes, will be completely restored, piece by piece. The site, which should last a year, requires the dismantling of this lifting device classified as a Historic Monument. Its arrow, still in place on Thursday, must therefore be removed in the coming hours. Which will, without a doubt, create a void in this landscape on the banks of the Loire.
The Black Crane was in a “fairly worn” state, as reflected in its rust-torn structure and partially gutted wooden cabins. Its elements will have to be asbestos removed, stripped, repaired, repainted and then reassembled by September 2023. The city of Nantes, which wishes to enhance this element of heritage which it owns, will therefore spend around 3 million euros in the operation. .
It celebrates its 80th anniversary
The Black Crane was erected at Chantenay in 1942 for the naval needs of the Dubigeon shipyards, on the very spot where Belem had been built 50 years earlier. This “hammer” type machine, designed specifically for the place where it was located, could lift up to 30 tons of goods. Heavy of 110 tons, the crane could move on the quay via a device of bearings.
Two other Nantes port cranes are classified as historical monuments: the yellow Titan Crane (operational from 1954 to 1987), near the Machines de l’île, and the gray Titan Crane (1966-2003), near the Banana Hangar.