Photo: Marr Contracting/John Zammit, courtesy of HS2

For an Australian crane specialist a visit by the Australian High Commission in the UK to a high speed rail construction site highlighted the effectiveness of a free trade agreement between the two countries.

Now marking its second year, the Australia-UK Free Trade Agreement took effect on 31 May 2023. An example of its benefits are demonstrated at the Old Oak Common HS2 construction site in west London where Australian specialist crane company Marr Contracting supplied a trio of huge tower cranes for the vast station project.

The Balfour Beatty Vinci Systra Joint Venture (BBVSJV) is responsible for this HS2 project. BBVSJV and Marr came up with a plan to use just three high capacity luffing jib tower cranes instead of a multitude of other cranes. This approach makes for a much less cluttered and simpler site, Marr said.

Giant towers

Marr鈥檚 cranes on the HS2 site are a pair of 330 tonne capacity Favco M2480Ds and a smaller, but still 96 tonne, M860DX.

Commenting on the thinking behind the lifting approach Simon Marr, Marr Contracting managing director, said, 鈥淓ssentially, the greater reach and lift capacity of the cranes means that larger and heavier pre-assembled modules can be used. This reduces the need for temporary works, working at heights and steel truss 鈥榮plicing鈥�, which all help to drive productivity and improve safety on the project.鈥�

From the contractor鈥檚 point of view Atul Jewitt, BBVSJV delivery director, said, 鈥淭he deployment of heavy lift tower cranes from Marr鈥檚 UK operations at Old Oak Common is central to our construction strategy, enabling the safe and efficient installation of key structural components across the site.

鈥淭heir use reflects the strength of our collaboration with international partners and suppliers, whose expertise and technology have been seamlessly integrated into our delivery model. This partnership approach is helping us meet the complex engineering demands of one of the UK鈥檚 most ambitious infrastructure projects,鈥� Jewitt said.

The UK-Australia trade agreement is bearing fruit for tower crane specialist Marr Contracting. Pictured on a visit to the Old Oak Common HS2 site, from left to right: Andrew Sainsbury, economic counsellor, Australian High Commission; Simon Marr, managing director, Marr Contracting; Nota Nikolakopoulou, senior package manager, BBVSJV; Steve Ryder, general manager 鈥� international, Marr Contracting; Atul Jewitt, delivery director, BBVSJV. Photo: Marr Contracting/Chris Dalton

Working agreement

On a visit to the HS2 site Andrew Sainsbury, economic counsellor at the Australian High Commission, said, 鈥淚t is fitting to be visiting Marr鈥檚 operations at HS2 to help mark the second anniversary of Australia-UK Free Trade Agreement, which entered into force on 31 May 2023.

鈥淭he Free Trade Agreement has opened new opportunities to deepen two-way trade and investment. More Australian businesses are exporting to the UK than ever before, and the stock of two-way foreign direct investment has increased to A$366 billion [in] 2024.鈥�

Other UK projects for Marr include the Hinkley Point C Unit 2 turbine hall, the Lostock sustainable energy plant and North London Heat & Power. 鈥淚t has made it much easier for us to do business here, particularly in terms of our ability to bid on other large-scale projects through access to UK construction frameworks.

鈥淲e鈥檙e now working on a number of large infrastructure projects in the energy and rail sectors, demonstrating that there is an alternative approach to projects of this scale that is safer, more productive and more efficient,鈥� Marr continued.

In terms of the trade agreement offering reciprocal benefits Marr said, 鈥淭he expansion of our UK operations is also offering new opportunities for professional development, shared learning and the transfer of knowledge and skills between our Australian and UK operations.鈥�