Specialist Workboat Hire for Inland Waterways
Not every job can be done from the bank. When your project needs lifting, hauling, or transporting on water, you need the right boat, and the right team behind it.
The Rothen Group offers a reliable fleet of inland waterway workboats for hire, including crane boats, grab boats, and wide-beam vessels. Designed for canals, rivers, and tight-access sites, they’re self-propelled, highly manoeuvrable, and available with or without an operator.
With lifting capacities up to 8 tonnes, reach up to 21m, and a choice of attachments from clamshell buckets to piling hammers, our crane boats are built for piling, dredging, Nicospan installation, and lock gate works. Whether you're shifting spoil or staging materials, we’ll get the right vessel on site, ready to work.
“The Rothen Group’s knowledge has ensured that potential issues were highlighted early, meaning projects run smoothly and on programme. They have a large fleet of plant and operators too, which reassures that the work will be completed safely and with due care.”
Martin Dean
JN Bentley
“The Rothen Group have worked with us and supplied marine, piling and fencing plant for many years. The team have excellent working knowledge of the UK canal system.”
Jim Walton
CPC Civils
“The works were completed to a high standard of quality both ahead of programme and in a safe manner. All parties were really pleased with how smooth the construction phase went.”
Andrew Smith
Mott MacDonald Bentley
“Your crew worked seamlessly to deliver both the headwall and gabion basket lifts safely and efficiently. Their approach to safety, teamwork, and communication made a real difference and helped keep everything on track.”
Adam De'Ath
Canal & River Trust
"The professionalism, communication and quality of the works delivered by The Rothen Group has been exceptional! From the project initiation phase to delivering the hard work on the ground they have been an outstanding contractor to work with."
Charles Hughes
Canal & River Trust
