03.05.2010

Overhead crane accident

A pair of Electric Overhead Travelling gantry cranes collapsed in Baku, Azerbaijan last week during stormy weather.

The two 60 tonne overhead cranes were installed in an offshore fabrication yard, where they are used for the fabrication of platforms and jackets.
Please register to see all images

The crane bridges were driven down the gantry by strong winds

We understand from specific reports from the site that failure was caused by the operator leaving at least one of the cranes unsecured with nothing to prevent it rolling down the length of the gantry.
Please register to see all images

The resulting collision caused extensive damage

As the wind rose it caught the crane bridges and blew them down the full travel length of the gantry until a collision was caused some of the travel rails to detach dropping the two cranes to the floor.

Thankfully no one was injured in the accident, although extensive damage was caused.