5.7.2012

A "gateway" for the mouth of the River Aura

Telakkaranta’s cranes to be restored and transferred to Kalmarinaukio

Above: The cranes on the east bank of the River Aura in 2008

The restoration of cranes on the east bank of the River Aura in order to permanently preserve them has begun. The cranes will be sandblasted and painted and all the wood panelling and lining will be renewed to restore them to their original look.

Where possible the crane's external parts will be kept and restored. However, the electrical engineering and equipment inside the cabins cannot be saved. For safety reasons, the access ladders will be blocked off so that it is not possible to climb up the crane. In addition, the crane’s electrical cabinets in the lower part of the crane will have to be removed.

An impressive "gateway" for the mouth of the Aura

After the restoration work the cranes will be moved about 200 meters upstream to Kalmaraukio. The cranes have been assigned protected status and their location has been defined in the town plan. The transfer to their final positions will take place on September 2012.

The restrored cranes will be approximately opposite Suomen Joutsen and the warship Tykkivene Karjala. The second crane will form an impressive “gate” over the Aura with the already renovated crane at Forum Marinum Maritime Centre.

The transfer and restoration work is being done by Turun Korjaustelakka and local subcontractors

Turun Korjaustelakka is donating the restored and transferred cranes to Turku Municipal Property Corporation Corporation, according to an agreed contract.

The cranes will be added to the Forum Marinum collection and – as part of Turku's European Capital of Culture year 2011 – they will become permanent monuments to the industrial culture that has thrived along the banks of the River Aura.