Whale Removal Operation

Supporting Edinburgh City Council in Whale Removal Operation

In October 2024, a deceased humpback whale washed ashore at Granton in Edinburgh.

Bernard Hunter was called in by Edinburgh City Council to assist with the safe removal of the 10-tonne mammal from the shoreline. Managing Director Mark Rafferty attended the site personally to oversee the planning and execution of the lift, which required careful consideration of tide times, public safety, and coastal conditions.

To prevent the whale from drifting further down the shoreline overnight, the team securely tethered it to the coastal defence rock system until the next low tide. The following day, specialist lifting slings were carefully positioned and attached to our Liebherr LTM1110-5.1 mobile crane. The whale was lifted from the shore and placed into a high-sided trailer for transport to a facility in Glasgow for responsible and environmentally compliant disposal.

This unique and sensitive operation demonstrated the versatility, professionalism, and expertise of the Bernard Hunter team in responding to complex and urgent civic challenges.

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Edinburgh’s Christmas Tree

Bernard Hunter continues proud tradition of supporting Edinburgh’s Christmas tree installation

Each year, a Christmas tree stands proudly on The Mound in the heart of Edinburgh—a symbol of friendship and gratitude from Vestland County in Norway to the people of Scotland, recognising their support during the Second World War. This annual gesture, which began in 1947, has become a beloved tradition in the capital.

Since the 1960s, Bernard Hunter has proudly supported this tradition by providing a mobile crane and experienced lifting team free of charge to hoist the tree into position. This service is given as a gift to the city, reflecting our commitment to the people and traditions of Edinburgh.

Each November, one of our Liebherr mobile cranes is deployed to carefully lift the Christmas tree into place on The Mound—ready to take its place at the centre of the city’s festive celebrations.

This long-standing partnership is a point of pride for Bernard Hunter, demonstrating our dedication to community, heritage, and supporting meaningful moments in the life of the city.

“Dear Mark, The City of Edinburgh Council would like to place on record our thanks to Bernard Hunter for their generous support to the citizens of Edinburgh and Hordaland Council. As you know, the task of placing the Christmas tree at The Mound is an important symbol of the spirit and support given by Scotland’s people to Norway during the Second World War. The cost of the tree itself is gifted to Edinburgh by the people of the Hordaland region in recognition of that support. On behalf of myself and everyone at the Council we are grateful for your contribution once again and would appreciate if you could please convey our thanks to the staff involved with the installation on Friday 1 November.

Yours sincerely,
Robert Aldridge, Lord Provost”

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Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo

Official Supporters of the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo

Bernard Hunter is proud to be an official supporter of the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo—one of Scotland’s most iconic and internationally celebrated events.

For several years, we’ve worked closely with the Tattoo team and the main contractors to support the construction and dismantling of the grandstand on the Castle Esplanade. This impressive temporary structure takes approximately eight weeks to build and the same to remove, requiring careful planning, logistical precision, and technical expertise.

Operating within a tight and historically sensitive site, we deploy our Liebherr mobile cranes and Spierings mobile tower crane, which are ideally suited for complex urban environments. Their versatility ensures safe and efficient operations in the restricted space around Edinburgh Castle.

With the Castle remaining open to the public during the entire build period, our team delivers every lift with the utmost care, professionalism, and attention to detail—ensuring minimal disruption to this world-famous landmark.

As proud official supporters, we are honoured to contribute to an event that showcases Scotland’s culture, music, and military tradition to a global audience.

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