The Technical Editor of this series of blogs can be categorised as possessing a heightened sense of curiosity which is conflated with the instincts of a pitbull. Whilst also having an inveterate inquisitive nature it leads to his relishing the challenge to explain the unusual and the incongruous.

So it was in the case of an hydraulic crane with extended legs hiding in plain view on the North Jetty. That explains why I never noticed it whereas Blaine has for years cogitated its existence and purpose. Whereas I classified it as another boring hydraulic crane at the harbour, Blaine was mystified.  What purpose did it serve? Why was it relocated? What was its significance?

This blog unmasks the object and provides a possible explanation for the crane’s existence and ultimate usage when it vanished from North Jetty.

Main picture: Unusual crane on North Jetty

According to Blaine: “I think I’ve solved the riddle that has bugged me for a long time.  A hydraulic crane with extended legs suddenly appeared on the North Jetty sometime after 1900.  I located it on another postcard which is listed as 1906 as the latest.

1. Why?  I think they thought that they needed cranage which didn’t block passengers walking down that side of the North Jetty.

2.  When did it leave?  Some time before 1906.

3.  Where did it go to?  Dom Pedro Jetty.

4.  Why?  The passenger volumes increased on the North Jetty to such an extent that all the cranes were removed from the north face.  The Dom Pedro jetty was lengthened some time after 1902 so they took the opportunity to move it there.