Crane collapses beside new Tanker, minor delay expected

The crane was in the process of being dismantled when it collapsed, luckily no one was injured and RFA Tidespring was not hit.

Local papers report that a 200m exclusion zone was in place after the crane crashed to the ground.

Cornwall Fire and Rescue Service said they were called at 8.44am to deal with “the collapse of a jip part of a crane”.

The first of the new Tide class tankers, RFA Tidespring, is in dock next to the crane for customisation work.

Crane collapsed at #Falmouth Docks. Staff Evacuated. Police and Fire on scene. Road closures on at Cliff Road. #Police. 6533 pic.twitter.com/oR9X3hhRnD

— Falmouth Police (@FalmouthPolice) May 10, 2017

According to the MoD, the customisation work is helping to support around 300 jobs at A&P Falmouth. The UK work content in the wider Tide Class programme is worth around £150 million, sustaining further jobs at 27 UK-based

companies. The project is being delivered well within budget by the MoD.

After a period of customisation and fitting out, Tidespring will embark on four months of trials off Scotland before she enters service with the fleet.

Internal wiring issues had delayed the acceptance of RFA Tidespring, the first of four new naval tankers until January this year.

The first of the four military tankers built in South Korea was finally been handed over to the Ministry of Defence in January, over a year later than planned.

The Tide class tanker is a class of four fast fleet tankers that will enter service with the Royal Fleet Auxiliary. The 37,000 tonne ships will provide fuel, food, fresh water, ammunition and other supplies to Royal Navy vessels around the world.

First steel was cut on the 24th of June 2014 for RFA Tidespring, she was expected to arrive in Falmouth in Spring 2016 to allow A&P Group to fit military equipment such as communications gear. Her three sister ships were to follow at six-month intervals.

Defence procurement minister Harriett Baldwin earlier blamed “delays in finalising elements of electrical design and the installation of Multi-Cable Transit insulation in accordance with new legislative regulations” which have now been resolved.

The UK still expects to have all four tankers delivered by 2018.