Samson and Goliath - Belfast Cranes

The Harland and Wolff cranes, towering over the Belfast skyline, are not just engineering icons; they are Belfast.

These iconic structures, known locally as Samson and Goliath have witnessed the rise and fall of shipbuilding in Belfast Habour and have become a symbol of the city itself.

Gantry Cranes

The cranes, known locally and affectionately as Samson and Goliath - always in that order, dominate the skyline of Belfast. From a quick google - the first, Goliath, was completed in July 1969, and Samson was completed in May 1974.

I was born in 1968, and grew up just outside Belfast, and I've only ever known the cityscape as having the two cranes.

The cranes are pretty much identical to the layman - same paint work, same design, with a span of 140m and working load of a massive 840 tonnes. Goliath has an overall height of 96m, and big brother Samson has another 10m at 106m.

Only when the cranes are close together the difference is visible.

Landmarks

Their bright yellow colour and distinctive shapes made them easily recognisable, and they soon became a source of pride for the local community, and still are today.

I've even got a Christmas hanging decoration of one of them = which takes pride of place on my tree each year.

You know your home when you spot them - and that is easily done from all over the city, but especially good when coming in from the air and landing at the close by City Airport, or arriving by boat into the nearby Belfast port.

Decline of the Shipbuilding Industry

By the 1990s, the shipyard had closed its doors.

Many feared that these iconic structures would be dismantled or left to rust and deteriorate.

However, the cranes were granted listed status, protecting them from demolition and thus ensuring their preservation for future generations.

Thankfully the area around the cranes continues to be redeveloped - the Titanic Quarter, is a busy redevelopment project, and has transformed the former inaccessible shipyard into a hub for tourism, education, and business.

The cranes are a perfect backdrop, reminding visitors of the city's past.

As Belfast continues to change, the Harland and Wolff cranes are a constant.

Belfast is a great city for a weekend visit.