The cans were made in a specialist factory in Holland and are being delivered by barge to be lifted into place by a 600 tonne crane near the beach.

The giant crane ready for action

The first of six cans were moved on Thursday with 17 due in total to eventually form the 162 metre high observation tower.

The barge is also delivering the counterweight which will be used to help the observation pod move up and down once complete, as well as four sections of a jacking tower.

The jacking tower will allows the site team to build the tower by placing each can in the jacking tower, lifting it up, and then fixing it to the next section.

This allows the construction team to build the i360 without the necessity of having a 200 metre plus high crane on site.

Eleanor Harris, chief executive at the i360, said: “This is a really exciting time for us and is another major milestone for the i360.

“The engineering techniques being used are really impressive and we are anticipating a lot of interest from people coming to the beach and watching the 100 metre-high crane in action.

“It will be fantastic to see the tower sections arriving and the tower will start taking shape soon.”

Construction started last summer on the £46.2m scheme designed by Marks Barfield Architects and Jacobs on the old West Pier site.

West Sussex contractor Mackley is in charge of the civils package on the project with Dutch steelwork specialist Hollandia set to erect the main steel mast.

The doughnut-shaped main observation pod will be built by French cable-car specialist POMA, which delivered the London Eye pods.