British safety office warns of tubular sleeved quay cranes

THE British Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has warned that ports with Morris cranes or others built like them should put them through tests after one collapsed in Southampton recently, badly injuring its driver.

The HSE warned against tubular collared or sleeved backstay quay cranes, especially those whose final welding assembly was done on site in wet conditions, reports London's International Freighting Weekly..

"The particular Morris Crane involved in the incident was installed in 1993 and although there are few of identical designs in the UK, there may be others worldwide," said the HSE statement.

"As a precautionary measure it may be advisable for users of any Morris dockside crane to have the backstays non-destructive testing tested for reassurance," the HSE said.

On July 13, the boom of Crane 6 collapsed at DP World Southampton container terminal while it was loading the 6,500-TEU NYK Themis, injuring the crane driver.

DP World Southampton managing director Campbell Mason has since announced that he is leaving his post for his native Australia when his assignment ends on January 1.

Source: http://www.schednet.com