Crane Collapse Destroys Yacht in England
A massive 40-ton hydraulic crane collapsed on a yacht at a sailing club in Portchester, Hants, England, destroying the boat; no injuries were reported.
The crane was lowering a new £20,000 Westerly Konsort yacht when, according to witnesses, it began to tip over and crashed into the center of the yacht. The impact of the 40-ton crane tore the boat almost in two. The operator of the crane was forced to leap out of his cabin 12 feet to the ground as the crane collapsed. Miraculously, no injuries were reported. One workman at the scene narrowly escaped injuries by darting from the area as the crane came down.
Coast guard personnel worked many hours to recover the crane as emergency crew members averted an environmental disaster by preventing oil from spilling into the water. A larger 100-ton crane was used to help with emergency rescue efforts.
Investigations into the crane accident will continue, but as of now the accident is being attributed to a broken hydraulic pipe. Investigators may look into whether there was a manufacturing defect that caused the crane to collapse in the middle of operations. They will also look at the maintenance records of the crane to see if shoddy maintenance could have been responsible for the fractured hydraulic pipe.
Maritime Injury Attorneys
Maritime workers injured in an accident caused by faulty or defective equipment can file damages claims under the Jones Act. The Jones Act exists to ensure that injured seamen receive full compensation after they have suffered injuries in a maritime accident. These benefits include initial medical care and continuation of medical care until your condition is deemed to have reached medical improvement. There are also other compensatory damages applicable for maritime injury accidents.
The maritime lawyers at Arnold & Itkin have helped thousands of injured maritime workers recover compensation for their injuries. If you've been injured in a maritime accident, contact a maritime attorney at Arnold & Itkin LLP for a free evaluation of your case.
