19.12.2016

Crane overturn at port

A Rough Terrain crane overturned at Port Townsend, Washington, on Friday trapping and injuring the operator.

The crane owned and operated by Craftsmen United at its boatyard in the town, was removing the mast from a fishing boat when the incident occurred. A witness said that “the mast pulled out and was then caught by the wind causing the superstructure to spin around and the crane to fall over.” The photos that we have received suggest that the mast may well have stuck and then suddenly released under pressure, rapidly unloading the boom causing the inner section to rip the top off the base boom section.
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The crane was 'pulling' the mast from a fishing boat

The operator was trapped in his cab and had to be extricated by firefighters, before being airlifted to a hospital in Seattle. He was reported to be in stable condition and his injuries are not life threatening. Port Townsend is a small town at the head of Puget Sound north of Seattle.
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The top of the base boom section was ripped open

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The top was also ripped out of some of the upper sections