An ultramodern crane engaged for handling coal in the Visakhapatnam Port was heavily damaged when it caught fire
on Sunday.
The crane manufactured by Liebherr was deployed by Alba Asia Private Ltd, which is developing mechanisation of EQ-6 and 7 berths for handling of coke and fertilizer under Design, Build, Finance, Operate and Transfer (DBFOT) basis. The reason for the fire was not immediately known.
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Eyewitnesses said the fire broke out in the engine and later it spread to other areas. None was injured in the accident. The cost of the 100-tonne crane was said to be around Rs.22 crore. The 100-tonne mobile harbour crane had advanced features like optimised undercarriage concept or inhouse designed control system. On noticing flames billowing out of the crane, the fire tender of the port was alerted.
Later another crane from the State Fire Department reached the spot. Efforts to extinguish the fire failed, an official, monitoring the crane’s movement, said.