In the United Arab Emirates, contractors JV Besix and Trojan General Contracting commissioned Mammoet to lift and install prefabricated pods and other structural components for a national museum being built on Abu Dhabi’s Saadiyat Island.
The museum’s outer structure is defined by five distinctive wing-shaped towers shaped to support the building’s climate performance by drawing cooler air through the museum. To deliver this complex structure safely and efficiently, Mammoet focused on a modular approach designed to reduce work at height, accelerate build time, and limit disruption across an active construction site with multiple trades and tower cranes operating at the same time.
To do the work Mammoet used one of its SK ring cranes. The crane was rigged in two different configurations at two different locations on the site.
First it was rigged in a SK350 configuration, then relocated and reconfigured in the SK190 configuration.
With its high lifting capability and long outreach, the SK crane allowed Mammoet to position the crane away from the busiest construction zones, staying clear of tower cranes while still reaching the lift points inside the structure. This reduced congestion, supported safer lifting operations, and allowed other work fronts to continue with minimal disruption.
In both areas, the crane was rigged with a 135-metre main boom, and lifts were executed with wind speeds limited to 14 m/s and only under a decreasing forecast, following strict criteria defined in the engineered lift plan to protect people, the load and the structure.
The heaviest lift reached 612 tonnes, with a working lift radius of over 150 metres. Ground pressure was also carefully managed, with the SK crane maintaining a worst-case ground bearing pressure of 26.9 t/m² during these lifts, supporting stable operations without excessive ground preparation.
Mammoet-engineered adjustable rigging, using strand jacks, was also utilised. It enabled controlled tilting, fine adjustment and rotation from fabrication orientation to final installation orientation. This precision was essential, says Mammoet, to safely install large, irregular-shaped pods within a tight footprint.
Now open to the public, the Zayed National Museum offers permanent galleries, special exhibitions and outdoor spaces that showcase the UAE.
