The museum offers a unique setting on a historic site, just a few minutes from the dynamic Bilbao city centre. After absorbing all the latest on short sea shipping delegates can enjoy networking in the atmospheric building which overlooks the Bilbao river estuary, the Carola crane and the museum\u2019s collection of vessels. <\/p>\n
The crane is a local landmark and was once used in shipbuilding at the Astilleros Euskalduna shipyard. It was built locally in 1957, is 60m tall and weighs 30 tons. In its day it was the most powerful crane built in Spain, and the first installed in Bilbao to handle prefabrication and block assembly work on slipways. It\u2019s named after Carola who was a young woman and crossed the river every day on her way to work. <\/p>\n
With its own dock, the museum will also be the return point for the Port tour, always a must attend element of Coastlink. This year the Port of Bilbao will host a fascinating insight into the latest developments in the Port. <\/p>\n
Other attractions just a few minutes\u2019 walk away from the maritime museum include the Guggenheim Museum, the Bilbao Fine Arts Museum, the Sala Rekalde gallery and the Azkuna Zentroa cultural centre. A stroll along the river will take delegates to the original Old Town, which is still the nerve center of Bilbao. <\/p>\n