An investigation has been launched after a 40-tonne slipway hoist worth nearly half a million pounds went out of control and crashed over a sea wall plunging onto the foreshore below.
The hoist operated by Falmouth Boat Yard smashed through the shelters on the slipway at the Park and Float at Ponsharden, went through the railings and crashed over the wall before plunging onto the public footpath and foreshore below, ending up upright in the water next to moored boats.
The hoist, which costs over £400,000 new, is used to carry yachts out of the water to store them for the Winter.
One eyewitness told the Packet that they heard a lot of commotion and an engine revving really loudly and the driver “really shouting and screaming”.
“It went straight through the bus shelter and went straight over the rails onto the public footpath and onto the foreshore beach,” he said.
“One of the boatowners on the moorings below was working on his boat nearby at the same time as the crane came crashing over the wall. It was quite close to his boat and another boat was damaged.”
Nick Offord from Falmouth Boat Yard said they were still trying to understand what had happened and an investigation was underway. He said The Health and Safety Executive had also been informed.
“We don’t know what happened, we are still investigating,” he told the Packet. “Nobody’s injured. The chap who was driving it luckily wasn’t injured and basically we’re doing an investigation at the moment to try and work out what’s gone wrong.”
He said a lot of the yards around had been very helpful offering their support as it was their busiest time of year and they were just starting to haul boats out in the yard.
“It’s a bit of a blow for our business here at Falmouth Boat Yard and we are trying to work out alternatives for customers from Falmouth Bay for people who’ve got moorings and stuff and usually come out in our yard," he said. "So we are trying to work out what we can do to mitigate the situation.”
He said they were waiting for report on the damage to the hoist which they are hoping to remove tomorrow for inspection and would need a large crane.
READ NEXT:
'I'm no hero' says brave young man who tried to stop XL Bully savaging Chihuahua
He said they’re safety expert had been down to try and find out what had gone wrong and they’d reported the accident to the Health and Safety Executive. The hoist is key to their operations, he said.
He said his company would have to sort out the damage caused to the slipway.
The company lifts boats and stores them during the winter for eight months. During the summer the site is operated as a park and ride and park and float, although the float has only partially operational this year because of issues with the pontoons which are believed to have been resolved. It is expected to be back next year.
The HSE have been contacted for a response.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel