heavy winds + pier = potential problems

[BigWheelArchives]

4-15-07

Received a call from Columbia Towing in Fall River to respond immediately to the Fall River Pier. Apparently a full size cargo van with a full load of equipment accidently backed up over the edge of the pier and landed on a large steel fishing boat below. The weather conditions were terrible, 40-50 mph winds with heavy rain. The wind was slamming the boat against the dock and bouncing up & down severely. The van was sitting on top of the steel railing of the boat and the front bumper was just about touching the top of the pier. Tech towing was originally called by Fall River Police per their rotation list, they arrived on scene saw the gravity of the situation and hooked a saftey chain from the back of their truck to the van. The second problem was that the van was bouncing off the rail of the boat and dropped another six feet dragging the wrecker & operator almost over the side into the water below. We responded with our 60 ton crane and immediately set the unit up and attached it to the van suspension we then lifted the van about 2' feet and disconnected the chains from the smaller wrecker that was being dragged back. After the area was cleared of vehicles, we raised the van all the way up and set it up onto the pier. The owner emptied his equipment out of the van then the van was towed to our Freetown location.

 

the other company had the wrecker only attached with one wire plus 2 safty chains, before his ramp got there, the van had the rear bumper sitting on the boat railing front on edge of dock, well the sea's were very rough an the ship dropped the van slid off the rail an dropped quick , the wire broke an the slack in the saftys was yanked an back went the wrecker making a quick stop against the large safty curbs, thanks for the curbs the water is 40 feet deep to acominadate large ships. thanks BOB