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Oct 20, 2009 Calling for more stringent crane ‘tie-down’ procedures TT Club With damaging hurricanes in the Atlantic, typhoons and cyclones in the Pacific, monsoons in the Indian, and random windstorms occuring anywhere, port equipment, premises and liability insurer, TT Club is strongly recommending that terminal operators urgently review their terminal emergency plans for dealing with high winds and in particular crane tie-down procedures. Wind damage

Analysis of the TT Club’s claims over a number of years has highlighted that wind damage to quayside cranes is the biggest weather related cost to terminals. Commonly, this damage is caused by quayside cranes being blown over or blown along the crane rails.

Due to their size, profile and location on the quayside, these cranes are particularly susceptible to wind, and care must be taken in the design and operating procedures to protect against damage.

Preventative measures

“This type of incident can result in serious injuries to workers and be very costly in repairs and operational downtime,” notes Laurence Jones, TT Club’s Director Global Risk Assessment. However such incidents can be prevented, or at least the collateral damage caused can be restricted by having appropriate procedures and ensur ing that they are followed. Essential elements include: having effective national and local weather reporting systems and ensuring that operational procedures respond effectively when sufficient warning is forthcoming. In addition, good practice would dictate that storm pin or tiedown facilities and procedures are invoked. Furthermore, better designed braking systems, which are properly maintained, can significantly help in conditions of sudden wind micro-bursts. There are two major windstorm issues to be considered: protection against forecast strong winds, and protection against sudden local winds called micro-bursts.

From PTI 42 page 44. Read the full article here.