30 JLG boomlifts provided by aerial rental specialist Riwal are set up in the shape of a ship for the massive Sail Amsterdam nautical festival.

Thirty boomlifts belonging to Europe’s largest aerial dealer/rental company Riwal were used to form a work of art at Sail Amsterdam 2010, Europe’s largest nautical event visited by hundreds of ships and millions of people. For five days in August, an artist’s impression of a ship was created using the 30 aerial work platforms, the display measuring 70 meters long, 25 meters wide and up to 23 meters high.

Dutch artist Andre Pielage created the concept Boom Lift Ship for the Sail Amsterday Foundation, but created his art with equipment and staff of Riwal, an international aerial rental specialist based in Dordrecht, Netherlands.

“We like people that approach us with seemingly wild ideas that involve aerial work platforms,” said Riwal CEO Dick Schalekamp. “They help us to think outside the box. We have seen a lot but never imagined anything like the Boom Lift Ship. Participating in this project fits our mentality. We have been enthusiastic from the day Andre approached us and as a JLG distributor, we have been able to supply the necessary types and numbers from our sales stock.”

“The 30 telescopic boomlifts have been placed side by side in a row, the booms and jobs have been positioned in a way that they form the girders of a ship,” said artist Andre Pielage.

Held every five years, SAIL Amsterdam is the largest free event in the Netherlands. It drew 1.8 million visitors in 2005.