Lack of Spotter Led to Crane Toppling Off Barge -NTSB
An incident involving a crane toppling off a barge in Virginia could have been avoided if a spotter was present to notice the crane being driven too far aft, and the cable system securing the crane to the barge failed, according to a recent report from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB).While working on the Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel expansion project near Norfolk on February 8, 2022, an onboard crawler crane fell off the construction barge Carolyn Skaves and into Willoughby Bay. The crane was later recovered and declared an insurance loss of nearly $2 million.
Workforce Development: Apprenticeship Programs Help Build the Fleet
Naval shipyards and industry partners see business growing, but finding enough trained and qualified workers is a challenge.General Dynamics Electric Boat will invest $1.7 billion to modernize and upgrade its Quonset, R.I. and Groton, Conn., facilities over the next ten years,” said Sean Davies , vice president for EB’s Quonset Point Operations. “Here at Quonset, we are investing $700 million that will increase our outfitting space by 13 acres, to support work on the Virginia and Columbia class of submarines.
Coast Guard rescues woman in Elizabeth River near Hampton Roads Bridge Tunnel
The Coast Guard rescued a 58-year-old woman Monday from the Elizabeth River near the Hampton Roads Bridge Tunnel. Virginia State Police dispatchers contacted Coast Guard Sector Hampton Roads Command Center watchstanders at 11:20 p.m. Sunday, reporting a woman in the water. An MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew from Coast Guard Air Station Elizabeth City, North Carolina was diverted and a 25-foot Response Boat - Small crew from Coast Guard Station Portsmouth launched to assist. The helicopter crew spotted the woman at approximately 12:05 a.m., Monday, and guided the small boat to her location. At 12:10 a.m. the woman was pulled from the water…
Coast Guard Medevacs Two from Tug Near Norfolk, Va.
The Coast Guard medevaced two crewmembers from the Elizabeth Anne, a 99-foot tug, Thursday, in the Elizabeth River approximately three miles southwest of the Hampton Roads Bridge Tunnel. A crewmember aboard the Elizabeth Anne contacted Coast Guard Sector Hampton Roads watchstanders via VHF-FM channel 16 at approximately 7:45 a.m., reporting a parted chain injured two crewmembers. Sector Hampton Roads watchstanders dispatched a crew aboard a 25-foot Response Boat - Small from Coast Guard Station Portsmouth to assist. The RB-S crew arrived on scene at approximately 8 a.m. and removed the two crewmembers. "The crew worked seamlessly together to stabilize the victim," said Petty Officer 3rd Class Linden Hannon, a crewmember aboard the RB-S from Station Portsmouth.
Ship Master Convicted for Operating Under the Influence
The master of a Panama-flagged freighter was convicted Wednesday of operating a commercial vessel while under the influence of alcohol and was fined $3,000 and ordered not to operate a vessel in U.S. waters for one year. Immigration officials are also processing Hungarian Janos Gyori, 52, for deportation. Gyori was arrested Jan. 11 after the Captain of the Port of Hampton Roads denied entry of the 214-foot General Lee. The vessel had been targeted for both security and safety boardings using the Coast Guard's standard risk assessment procedures. The freighter failed to stop 12 miles offshore for a security check, and Gyori did not respond to the Coast Guard over radio. After the team detected alcohol on his breath, they conducted a field sobriety test, which he failed.
