This aerial photograph shows a 235m vessel gingerly entering Yarmouth's new �50m Outer Harbour. The Zhen Hua 6 docked in to the harbour on Monday.

This aerial photograph shows a 235m vessel gingerly entering Yarmouth's new �50m Outer Harbour.

The Zhen Hua 6 docked in to the harbour on Monday and will soon start unloading its cargo of four giant cranes to be used in the harbour's container terminal.

Over the last few months the Zhen Hua has ploughed her way across the waves on its long journey from China to the Norfolk resort - via Hong Kong, South Africa's Cape of Good Hope and the Canary Islands.

It is the most recent of six specially designed vessels purpose-built for transporting container cranes and is equipped with an additional anchor and two winches at the back ensure the cranes remain stable.

Last week the Zhen Hua drew interest as it moored off the coast near Hopton as it prepared to dock at the outer harbour.

A team of specialist engineers will be flown in to install the �7m cranes at the harbour over a two month period.

The harbour is expected to launch its commercial trade in July when larger vessels servicing the offshore industry begin to use it.

Eddie Freeman, chief executive of harbour owners EastPort UK, said: 'It has been a big civic effort. It was not easy to make it happen and I know a lot of environments where it would not have happened.'

Monday's docking of the Zhen Hua follows recent job losses among EastPort port workers and a planned change in the remaining staffs' contracts.