Durham Lifting is playing a key role in the return to operation of Sunderland's historic
Pallion Shipyard, providing specialist lifting equipment, servicing and technical support as industrial activity resumes at the landmark site.
The former shipyard, once at the heart of the North East's shipbuilding industry, is now being used to store and handle substantial volumes of specialist beams. Three full lines of beams are arriving at the facility before being prepared for onward transportation, creating a need for lifting infrastructure capable of handling demanding material movements safely and efficiently.
To support the operation, Durham Lifting's Service Division has worked closely with the Pallion team to bring existing crane assets back into service following a prolonged period of inactivity.
At the centre of the project are two cranes located within the shipyard building. After years of limited use, the equipment required detailed assessment, servicing and remedial work before it could be returned to operational condition.
Durham Lifting carried out inspections and maintenance work to ensure the cranes met current operational requirements and could support the handling activities taking place on site. The company has also supplied lifting equipment used to move beams, pipes and other heavy materials throughout the facility.
The project highlights the growing demand for specialist support when ageing industrial infrastructure is reactivated for modern use. Rather than replacing existing assets, Durham Lifting's approach focused on evaluating the condition of the cranes already installed, identifying any maintenance requirements and providing the technical expertise needed to restore them to service.
The company's involvement extends beyond equipment supply, encompassing ongoing support designed to help customers maintain safe and compliant lifting operations. Drawing on more than 25 years of experience in the lifting industry, Durham Lifting said its Service Division is increasingly being called upon to help businesses maximise the value of existing infrastructure while ensuring compliance with current standards.
The revival of activity at Pallion carries particular significance given the site's industrial heritage. At its peak, the wider shipyard employed thousands of workers and was a major contributor to Sunderland's shipbuilding sector. The scale of the remaining buildings and infrastructure serves as a reminder of the important role the site once played in the region's economy.
For Durham Lifting director Amanda Gardiner, the project also has a personal connection. Pallion was the location of her first site visit at the start of her career, making the opportunity to return decades later and support the site's latest chapter especially meaningful.
The work has been undertaken in collaboration with Colin Ainsley, Director at LV Shipping, and the team overseeing operations at Pallion. Mr Ainsley brings extensive experience from a career spanning transport, logistics and shipping, having progressed through roles ranging from mechanic and truck driver to senior management positions.
That background has provided valuable insight into the planning and coordination required to manage the movement and storage of large-scale industrial components now arriving at Pallion.
Mr Ainsley has become involved in the site's redevelopment and operational reactivation, helping oversee a project that is bringing new industrial purpose to a location steeped in engineering history.
Durham Lifting said the project demonstrates the importance of specialist knowledge when returning dormant assets to productive use. The company's engineers have provided the servicing, maintenance and technical expertise needed to support safe lifting operations, while also supplying the accessories and equipment required for day-to-day material handling.
As deliveries continue and operations expand, activity at Pallion represents both a new commercial use for the facility and a continuation of the heavy engineering traditions on which the site was built.
For Durham Lifting, the project is an opportunity to apply decades of lifting expertise to a significant industrial landmark. For Pallion, it marks another step in bringing a historic North East shipyard back into productive use, with cranes once again operating inside a building long associated with large-scale engineering and manufacturing activity.
Pic: Amanda Gardiner and Colin Ainsley