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CRANE BARGES

Polaris Marine Group provides expert crane barge services for marine construction and lifting operations across Australia.
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Crane barges are a vital part of marine construction, providing essential lifting capability for heavy materials, equipment, and prefabricated elements. Polaris Marine Group operates a fleet of crane barges that support complex marine infrastructure projects across Australia. From wharf repairs and jetty builds to dredging support and bridge construction, our crane barges are engineered for strength, precision, and safe operation in coastal and inland waterways.

Project Summary

Key Achievements

Specialised Marine Lifting Equipment

Unlike land-based cranes, crane barges are designed specifically to perform lifting operations in challenging marine environments. Mounted on a floating platform, the crane can rotate, extend, and lift loads with stability even in tidal waters or variable conditions. Polaris Marine Group’s fleet includes various configurations—from small mobile units to large floating cranes—so we can match the lifting requirement to the project. Crane barges are often used where access from land is limited or where the materials being handled are too large or heavy for manual transport. Our barges assist in the installation of bridge spans, pile driving operations, salvaging sunken vessels, and loading or unloading equipment onto work sites with difficult access. The ability to carry, position, and operate heavy lifting gear from water is one of the great advantages crane barges offer to marine construction projects.

Supporting Large-Scale Marine Infrastructure

Polaris Marine Group’s crane barges are routinely deployed on major marine infrastructure builds. In these settings, our lifting platforms are critical to the movement and placement of steel piles, concrete blocks, formwork, and other structural components. The cranes can be fitted with specialised attachments such as pile hammers, grabs, and buckets, extending their usefulness beyond lifting into material handling and foundation work. Each of our crane barges is equipped to handle the unique demands of the marine environment. That includes corrosion-resistant fittings, stability aids for working in current or swell, and integration with positioning systems that allow accurate alignment during critical tasks. With qualified crane operators and barge crews, we ensure lifting work is conducted to the highest safety and efficiency standards.

Flexible Deployment for Coastal and Inland Projects

One of the major benefits of working with Polaris Marine Group is our flexibility. Our crane barges can be mobilised to remote or regional areas via tow or transport vessels. This allows us to support infrastructure work not just in major cities, but also in ports, rivers, harbours, and isolated coastal zones. Whether you’re managing a civil engineering project, a marine upgrade, or an emergency repair, we can position a crane barge to meet your needs. In addition to large-scale jobs, our crane barges are often used for smaller operations such as debris removal, light construction, or marine salvage. In these instances, the ability to quickly mobilise and safely perform lifting operations over water provides real value to clients. Our team assesses the scope and proposes the right barge and crane setup to match.

Integrated with Other Marine Services

Crane barges are just one part of Polaris Marine Group’s full-service capability. Because we also offer marine engineering, piling, demolition, salvage, and dredging services, we can integrate our crane barges into wider project solutions. For example, when working on a jetty restoration, our crane barges may be used to remove damaged components, place new piles, or assist in lifting equipment into place. This coordination means fewer contractors are needed on-site, reducing complexity and improving outcomes. Our team takes a project-led approach to barge use. We consult with clients to understand the construction sequence and tailor our lifting solutions accordingly. With decades of combined marine construction experience, we anticipate challenges like weather delays, access issues, and environmental constraints—ensuring our crane barge operations remain efficient and compliant.

Commitment to Safety and Environmental Compliance

As with all Polaris Marine Group operations, safety is our highest priority. All crane barge work is conducted under a comprehensive Safe Work Method Statement (SWMS) and in accordance with maritime and construction safety regulations. Our operators are highly trained, licensed, and experienced in marine lifting. We also perform detailed risk assessments for each project, particularly where work is carried out near other assets, vessels, or the public. Environmental protection is another key consideration. We use containment systems and environmentally-safe practices to ensure our crane barge work does not pollute marine environments. This includes spill prevention, silt curtains, and clear protocols for waste handling and site access. Our crew follows all guidelines from EPA and maritime authorities to minimise disturbance to local ecosystems.

Customisable Solutions for Unique Projects

Not all lifting work is the same. Polaris Marine Group customises crane barge operations to suit each client’s exact requirements. Whether it’s lifting prefabricated components onto a breakwater, removing boulders during dredging, or salvaging a sunken object from harbour depths, our team plans the crane barge deployment with precision. We consider the site’s access, depth, tide movements, lifting loads, and anchoring needs when recommending the best solution. For more complex projects, we can work alongside engineers and project managers to develop lift plans, staging areas, and support infrastructure. Our crane barges can be configured with additional tools, crew amenities, lighting, and even onsite fuel or power supplies, depending on the operational timeline.

Why Choose Polaris Marine Group

Clients choose Polaris Marine Group because we’re marine specialists, not general contractors. Every service we provide—from crane barge hire to pile installation and demolition—is focused on the unique conditions of the marine environment. Our fleet is maintained to a high standard, our operators are experienced in maritime safety, and our operations are designed for efficiency and compliance. We also understand the logistical and operational realities of marine construction. We help our clients anticipate site access challenges, environmental approvals, and stakeholder considerations—delivering crane barge solutions that meet project goals while staying on time and on budget. From one-off lifts to long-term barge deployment, we provide scalable marine support that keeps infrastructure projects moving.

PROJECTS

SEE US IN ACTION

Manton Dam

Polaris Marine Constructions were engaged by Exact Contracting to provide a modular crane barge service at the Dam wall at Manton Dam to deliver the replacement of internal valving and upgrades to the infrastructure of the Intake tower.

Nelligen Bridge Marine Support and Demolition Contract

Polaris Marine Group played a key role in the Nelligen Bridge project, providing overwater support for construction before demolishing the 7-span, 5,000-tonne bridge. The in-house demolition was incident-free, using a suspended work deck with geotextile and drainage to capture debris. Materials were processed on-site and recycled. This project highlighted Polaris Marine’s expertise in complex marine demolition within sensitive waterways.

Seabed Services Pipe Line Deployment

Deploy 3 service pipe lines on the sea floor between Garden Island and Fort Dennison and cover with precast grout mattresses.

Fort Denison – Ferry Wharf

This project included wharf demolition, sea wall remediation, pile installation, concrete works, and the installation of a new pontoon with electrical connections.

Circular Quay – Western Promenade – Soffit Concrete Repairs

This project involved concrete remediation works, including hydro-blasting, shotcrete application, bar reinforcement, protective coatings, and concrete cutting, with site set-up, exclusion zones, and sound curtain installation to ensure safety and minimal disruption.

Manly Boat Shed – Pontoon & Jetty Replacement

This project involved constructing a pontoon, gangway, and timber jetty, including piling, demolition, and electrical connections, to deliver a durable marine access solution.
SEE MORE POLARIS PROJECTS

TESTIMONIALS

HEAR FROM SOME
OF OUR CLIENTS

★★★★★ 5/5
“Polaris are awesome to work with, they make landscaping jobs with tricky access a breeze.”

Johnny L - Distinct Landscapes

★★★★★ 5/5
“The attention to detail provided by PMC during the project could not be faulted. Execution, safety, onsite management and the finished product were at a very high standard. Communication throughout the project from PMC Supervisors and Project Manager were regular and accurate. This enabled Thales to understand daily activities, problems and overall progression at every stage. Ultimately, the professionalism shown by PMC through all aspects of the project, enabled for a successful end product to the Commonwealth. I can’t thank Dane and the PMC team enough for the way the project was ran, start to finish.”

Jake Duncombe, Project Manager

★★★★★ 5/5
“Polaris were an exceptional contractor to work with throughout this project. They were fluent in communication, timely, reliable, nailed the quality of work and went out of their way to be flexible with Thales needs. They have a positive and healthy working relationship with Thales.”

Owen Gardner, Project Manager

★★★★★ 5/5
“I have had the pleasure of working with Polaris for the last couple of years, particularly with transporting vehicles for events, deliveries, and contractors. Their Team is professional and reliable, from their Operational Team, Cookie & Jay, to their Skippers and deckhands are incredibly efficient, even under tight event schedules. What really stands out is their attention to detail and commitment to customer satisfaction. Such as accommodating last-minute changes, they always go the extra mile to make sure everything runs smoothly, giving us peace of mind. Over the years we have built a great relationship/partnership with Polaris and we look forward to continuing to work with them for years to come.”

Keighley O, Sydney Harbour Trust

GET IN CONTACT

If you need to tow it, show it, build it, push it, deliver it, lift it or salvage it over water; please complete this form and one of our team will be in touch.

Gate 2, James Craig Rd, Rozelle NSW 2039

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Phone: +61 2 9563 8333
Emergency Phone: +61 (0) 418 231 916

[email protected]

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Gate 2, James Craig Rd, Rozelle NSW 2039
[email protected]
Phone: +61 2 9563 8333
Emergency Phone +61 (0) 418 231 916
CERTIFICATION
BIMCO Certified
Certifications