About

The two great yellow-painted gantry cranes Samson and Goliath have become icons of Belfast, dominating the entire city skyline.

Constructed to service the vast new graving dock at Harland and Wolff, Goliath (the smaller at 315 ft) began work in 1969, and the 348ft Samson five years later.

Each of the Krupp-Ardelt designed cranes can lift loads of up to 840 tons.

Harland and Wolff were still one of the world's great shipbuilders at the time and the building of the two cranes, during a difficult period for shipbuilding in Belfast, was seen as a sign of faith in the future.

Now much beloved Belfast landmarks, their own future was assured in 2003 when they were scheduled for preservation.