Accessing history

Contractors Ostsee Gerustbau, based in Horst, used the SpeedyScaf system to provide access to the almost straight 70 m (154 ft) long sides of the ship, with the large areas of the vessel amidships being quickly and easily covered, since it fitted perfectly around the curving contours encountered at these parts of the vessel. The roof structure, which was positioned 36 m (80 ft) in the air over the ship's bridge, was lifted into place by a floating crane, since the dockside cranes were unable to reach that height.

The scaffold components required for the job were transported by a side loading fork lift from the quayside over a ramp and into the floating dock where the Rhön rested out of the water. A total of 250 t of SpeedyScaf and Allround were transported in this way, along with 3200 m² of cassette roof. The contractors then built the entire weather- and wind-proof structure in less than 14 days. The result was an access solution that provided access to every part of the outside of the ship and protected the workforce from the worst of the German winter weather. The structure was so stable that it withstood winds blowing at 117 km/h (73 mph).