Liebherr cranes ensure precision and progress in Fehmarnbelt tunnel construction

The Fehmarnbelt Tunnel, currently on of the largest infrastructure project in Northern Europe, relies on state-of-the-art Liebherr crane technology. More than 20 Liebherr tower cranes are operating on the Danish side of the site, many of which are rail-mounted – a key success factor for the efficiency and flexibility required by this major undertaking.

Reliable and mobile on rails: Maximum flexibility for a massive construction site

The requirements on the Danish construction site are extraordinary: heavy loads, tight schedules, harsh coastal weather conditions, and a construction timeline that spans several years. This is where Liebherr cranes, such as the Liebherr 380 EC-B 16 and the 630 EC-H 40, demonstrate their strengths. Their robust Liebherr-designed slewing platforms stand out: even in weather conditions that have brought other crane systems to a halt, Liebherr cranes have continued to operate reliably.

Many of the Liebherr cranes deployed on the site are rail mounted. This design allows them to move efficiently across expansive production and assembly areas without time-consuming dismantling or reassembly. The high-performance Liebherr cranes play a vital role in the production and transport of 79 standard tunnel elements, each 217 meters long and weighing around 73,000 tonnes, over 1.5 kilometres. The cranes are engineered to remain in operation on site throughout the entire construction period.

Technology for the world’s longest immersed tunnel

With approximately 18 kilometres in length, the Fehmarnbelt Tunnel will become the longest immersed tunnel in the world, running beneath the Baltic Sea between the Danish island of Lolland and the German island of Fehmarn. The project forms a central component of the Scandinavian-Mediterranean corridor within the European core transport network. In addition to a two-track electrified railway, the tunnel will include four motorway lanes, significantly reducing travel time between Hamburg and Copenhagen.

Liebherr cranes are renowned for their durability, ease of maintenance, and high performance. Their integration into one of Europe’s most complex and longest-running construction projects is a testament to these strengths. The combination of rail-mounted deployment and powerful slewing systems makes them the first choice for large-scale projects with extreme demands.