World’s largest crane completes precision lift for UK nuclear project VIDEO

05 June 2026 08:42

Engineers at the Hinkley Point C nuclear power station in southwest England have completed a mammoth task by successfully positioning a 500-tonne reactor pressure vessel inside the facility's second reactor building with a clearance of just four centimeters on either side.

The massive steel cylinder was lifted this week into place by Big Carl, the world's largest crane, before being carefully transferred into the reactor building for final installation, the company's media team announced.

The operation marks a significant milestone in the construction of Hinkley Point C's second reactor unit. Unlike Unit 1, where the reactor vessel was installed using a large temporary overhead lifting system, engineers employed Big Carl for the lift, a method expected to save time, reduce costs and free up valuable construction space.

Once inside the reactor building, the 13-meter-long vessel was hoisted by the facility's internal polar crane, rotated into a vertical position and precisely lowered onto its support ring.

The installation comes less than a year after the reactor building's steel dome was lifted into place, completing the structure's outer shell.

Project officials say construction of Unit 2 is progressing 20–30% faster than Unit 1, benefiting from lessons learned and efficiencies gained from building an identical reactor design with the same workforce. The second unit has more equipment installed than Unit 1 had at the equivalent stage, including three large heat exchangers, while additional structural steelwork and the outer containment layer have already been completed.

The reactor pressure vessel is a key component of the plant, where nuclear fission generates heat to produce steam that will drive the facility's Arabelle turbines.

Once operational, Hinkley Point C's two reactors are expected to generate enough low-carbon electricity to supply around six million homes, strengthening the UK's energy security and reducing reliance on imported fossil fuels.