Next year, boot Düsseldorf, the world's largest water sports trade fair, awaits visitors with a wide range of topics, exhibitors and offers from all areas.
The big superstars of the trade fair are not to be missed: Preparations are in full swing so that the trade fair can start on time. The first motor yachts were craned out of the Rhine yesterday. Norbert Pilarski, crane operator of "Big Willi", reports on the experienced work of the team and a small technical glitch yesterday morning: "The first thing to fail is this touch panel, so I can't see how heavy the yacht is." After restarting the system, everything went according to plan.
The first attractions for boot Düsseldorf 2025 moved into the exhibition halls yesterday: the Princess S65, the Princess Y72 and the Princess Y85. "Big Willi" will be in daily operation until 9 January. You can find a video about the operation here here.
Questions and answers about the ship crane
- Where can you find "Big Willi"? Seen from the water, it is located exactly at Rhine kilometre 748.2.
- How many tonnes can "Big Willi" manage? It can actually lift up to 100 tonnes.
- How heavy is "Big Willi" himself? It can even carry more than its own total weight, as "Big Willi" only weighs a slim 79 tonnes.
- How does "Big Willi" move? The crane runs on a total of eight wheels and has a gradeability of 5%. This allows it to drive effortlessly into the Rhine, lift the boat waiting there and drive up the ramp with its precious cargo to the low-loaders standing on the road.
- What does "Big Willi" do during floods? The current flood situation does not jeopardise a "Big Willi" deployment. It even makes his work a little easier, as he doesn't have to go as deep into the Rhine water.
- How long will "Big Willi" be in action for boot 2025? To bring the boats and yachts ashore, he is at work every day from 18 December to 9 January. He is on holiday until 26 January and from 27 January he has to gradually carry all the boats back down into the Rhine.
- Who drives "Big Willi"? The ship's crane has an experienced crane operator. Norbert Pilarski from the Schuhmann company has been craning the boats and yachts for boot Düsseldorf with "Big Willi" for over 30 years.
- Why is he called "Big Willi"? The crane has a prominent namesake. The former NRW Minister of the Interior and President of the German Sports Federation, Willi Weyer, was closely associated with boot Düsseldorf and in 1980 was the godfather of the ship's crane, which was named in honour of Weyer.
Video about the "Big Willi" mission
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