Video – GRT Demolish Container Crane in Puerto Rico

The dinosaur is brought down to its knees. Video GRT

Date 5 November 2018

As reported on HeavyLiftNews.com in mid October on this link a crane was to be demolished in Puerto Rico. Today we can report on the demolition work that was carried out.

The 180 ft ship to shore crane needed to be demolished as it was heavily corroded and SSA International (a stakeholder of the port in San Juan) decided that the quickest way for this to happen would be to go down the unusual demolition route of toppling, rather than the more conventional; taken apart piece by piece.

To bring down a crane of this magnitude down requires careful planning. GRT engineers had to calculate where to cut, blast and pull the crane so that it’s falling could be controlled.

Essential to any crane toppling is the creation of the “drop zone”, which is the area where the crane falls.  In the picture below you can see the installation of gravel on the ground, strategically placed to cushion the fall and to reduce damage to the container yard.

A project of this size is not without it’s complications.  But due to the teamwork and cooperation between GRT and SSA International, all issues were addressed and promptly resolved; thus ensuring the project was executed safely, on time and within budget. 

Looking through the crane before demolition we can see the gravel banks laid out on the ground to absorb the impact and protect the ground working area.

Source and photograph – Global Rigging & Transportation (GRT)