Getting the wheel from Gorinchem to London

The transport of the rim, boarding platform and restraint towers was a large operation which had to be planned in detail.

The different sections of the rim were transported on barges from Gorinchem, the Netherlands and crossed the North Sea and sailed over the river Thames to its final destination.

Tides on the Thames had to be taken into account to ensure adequate clearance below the different bridges that had to be crossed. This was also extremely important for the installation vessel Taklift 1, which was the largest vessel ever to sail this far on the Thames.

Partially on land but for the larger part on the river, the different sections were welded together after which the erection took place.