The German-made crane, which is powered by a Mercedes Benz motor, possesses a 90 metre boom together with tracks that weigh a mammoth 76 tonnes each.

The bulk of the cranes work involves moving 8500 tonnes of steel, 15,000 lengths of pipes and 180 jobs fitting special equipment, including two $10 million-a-piece cryogenic heat exchangers - the core of the LNG processing train.

According to the lift operator of 'Big Red', lifting involves a great deal of skill as well as care, with each lift over 20 tonnes subject to a lift analysis exercise by engineers.

The Woodside-operated North West Shelf gas project is currently undergoing a $1.6 billion expansion which includes the fourth LNG processing train.