GŻIRA — Alarm spread through the construction industry this morning after a single tower crane was spotted standing alone on a development site in Gżira, with no accompanying cranes visible within a 200-metre radius — a phenomenon that experts say has not been observed in Malta since 2003.
”Cranes are social creatures. They always travel in groups of at least three or four,” explained Dr. Tumas Fenech, a professor of Urban Ecology at the University of Malta who has spent fifteen years studying Malta’s crane population. “To see one completely alone like this is deeply concerning. It may be disoriented, or it may have been separated from its flock during a permit application.”
The Planning Authority confirmed that the crane, a Liebherr 280 EC-H, was legally erected on a site designated for a new 12-storey apartment block. However, the absence of neighbouring cranes has raised questions about whether the development is proceeding normally.
”Usually, when one crane goes up, seven more follow within forty-eight hours,” said resident Marija Cassar, 56, who has lived in Gżira for thirty years and considers herself an amateur crane-spotter. “I’ve been watching from my roof terrace and it’s been three days now. Just the one crane. Standing there. Alone. It’s heartbreaking, honestly.”
The Malta Developers Association issued a statement expressing “deep concern” and pledging to “reunite the crane with others of its kind as soon as possible.” Sources within the association suggest that two additional cranes are being fast-tracked through the permits process and could be erected as early as next week.
”No crane should have to stand alone in Malta. It goes against everything we stand for as a nation,” said association president Zaren Spiteri. “We will not rest until our skyline is returned to its natural state — which is, of course, completely obscured by cranes.”
Meanwhile, a GoFundMe page titled “Help This Crane Find Friends” has raised €4,200 in just six hours, though it remains unclear what the funds would actually be used for.
At press time, the crane was observed turning slowly to the east, which experts interpret as either a sign of loneliness or routine operational testing. “Probably loneliness,” said Dr. Fenech.