In April last year an Atlas lorry loader crane fitted on the workboat Carol Anne collapsed while being used to offload a net at a fish farm at Balure on Loch Spelve, Scotland. The crane fell onto the workboat’s skipper, who was declared dead at the scene. The crane had been in operation since its installation 6½ weeks earlier and it was not found to be overloaded when it failed.
A Marine Accident Investigation Branch report said Inverlussa Marine Services worker Mr Kerr was supervising a 20-year-old deckhand unloading the last of the nets at Balure, Loch Spelve, when the crane collapsed.
The report states that there was a loud bang and suddenly the Atlas crane fell forwards towards the skipper and the deckhand. The emergency services were called but efforts to resuscitate the skipper were in vain.
Investigators found factors contributing to the crane collapsing included that no installation guidance was provided with the crane which was installed six and half weeks before the accident, as none was required by law.
The report also found that no installation guidance was provided with the crane. It was installed with smaller and fewer tie bolts than intended by the manufacturer. The lock nuts were of a lower grade material strength than indicated by their markings and the statutory thorough examination and test of the crane following its installation did not identify the inadequacy of the mounting arrangement.
A recommendation was made to Atlas (UK) the crane supplier to ensure the integrity of Atlas cranes installed on other workboats and in addition West Yorkshire Trading Standards was informed of the misleading markings on the lock nuts.
A recommendation was made to Atlas Maschinen GmbH, the crane manufacturer, aimed at ensuring installation information is provided with all Atlas cranes fitted in the UK. Another recommendation has gone to the Association of Lorry Loader Manufacturers and Importers which is intended to improve the effectiveness of thorough examinations and testing of shipborne lorry loader cranes and the Maritime and Coastguard Agency and Inverlussa Marine Services have also received recommendations intended to improve adherence to, and the effectiveness of established codes of practice with regard to the installation or replacement of shipborne cranes on workboats.
