Leading Turkish tower crane rental company Atilla Dural is providing a Liebherr 280 HC-L luffing jib crane for the restoration of the 1,500-year-old Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque in Istanbul. According to Liebherr the luffing jib crane is enabling precise and safe lifting operations in the challenging environment between the mosque’s minarets.
“In projects as sensitive and historically significant as the Hagia Sophia Mosque, technical competence must be matched by absolute reliability,” says Turgay Dural, managing director of Atilla Dural – which has been a Liebherr partner since the 1980s.. “Even the smallest error could have serious consequences which is why we chose the Liebherr 280 HC-L. Liebherr gives us complete confidence and technical support which is essential for flawless execution.
“Our long-standing partnership with Liebherr has enabled us to play an active role in many prestigious projects, including the 1915 Çanakkale Bridge. In such projects, options are limited, technical expertise and quality are decisive factors. With Liebherr, we know we can deliver to the highest standards.”
Special foundation work and sensitive lifting operations
Due to the historic significance of the site, installation of the crane required special ground techniques. The crane was erected without underground excavation, using an anchored ground system based on special static calculations. After site analyses, X-ray tests and approval by the scientific committee, the crane was installed on a purpose-built platform. The entire process took around four to five months.
The decision to use a luffing jib crane was key to meeting the project’s unique challenges. “The Liebherr 280 HC-L allows lifting operations between the mosque’s minarets with precision and safety,” said Ömer Suiçmez, sales manager at Atilla Dural.
“High tourist traffic, pedestrians moving under the crane, and the need for absolute accuracy in lifting and lowering meant that this crane was the ideal choice. Its ability to operate at steep angles, combined with high load capacity, offered the flexibility we needed in such a sensitive environment.”
