Dramatic crane collapse at South African port

RNEWS reported that Transnet National Ports Authority said that the port experienced gusts of more than 50 knots per hour on the morning of October 30 and that port manager Rajesh Dana noted that the Transnet Port Terminals crane on the quayside was damaged.

The same day, SABC News claimed that the piece of equipment was lying partially across the harbour entrance, while online images appear to show the damaged crane partly in the water.

Another media outlet reported that day that it was blocking the entrance to the harbour.

The Port Elizabeth office of the South African Weather Service (Weather SA) estimated that the incident occurred between 6:30am and 7:40am, according to RNEWS.

Garth Sampson, Weather SA’s client liaison officer for the Eastern Cape, said that the increase in wind speed over a relatively short amount of time “could have been a contributing factor” to the crane toppling.

Wind speeds recorded at Port Elizabeth’s Shark Rock Pier that morning revealed that the wind peaked at 7:45am, with an average speed of 14.8 m/s gusting 28.6 m/s (33.1 mph gusting 64 mph).

Mr Dana said that no employees were injured in the incident, according to RNEWS.

He added that the crane had been secured and the extent of the damage was being assessed, with a business continuity plan having been put in place in an attempt to limit any more effects to operations.