10.11.2004

Aerial lift topples Crane onto aircraft carrier

Five people, including the crane driver, were taken to hospital in Portsmouth yesterday when a dock crane collapsed onto the aircraft carrier HMS Invincible, while the crane was lifting an aerial work platform off of the ship.

The injured crane driver, employed by Navy contractors FSL, was trapped by his leg in his cab for almost an hour and a half until he was freed by firefighters. He also suffered a bad cut to his head.He was taken to hospital in Portsmouth for a scan on the head injury but it was not thought to be a serious wound. Also taken to hospital were two sailors suffering from hypothermia and shock after they jumped overboard in to the freezing water to avoid the cranes boom as it loomed towards them and two others suffering from an arm and an eye injury.
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The dock crane topples onto HMS Invincible while lifting a MEWP

Marcus Watson, services director for crane owners FSL, said the crane had undergone an inspection only three weeks ago. He said: "It's not unusual for us to be lifting this sort of equipment from a ship "There is electronic equipment on the crane which monitors the weight and operating area to make sure that we operate within the safeguards."

Captain Ian Beaumont, acting commander of the base, said a full investigation had been launched by the Health and Safety Executive and that the possibility that the crane was carrying too heavy a weight was being investigated. "It is a major incident and all the emergency services have worked absolutely superbly together," he added.

Capt Beaumont said the damage to the ship was limited to minor damage to two small balconies protruding from the side of the ship.

Two mobile cranes were hired in today in order to remove the failed harbour crane.

HMS Invincible, carries Sea Harrier fighter planes, Harrier GR7 bombers and Sea King helicopters, she was in dock for routine maintenance work.

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Damage to the ship was minor