Titled "Cranes and Concrete: What Could Possibly Go Wrong?", the seminar paired two areas where engineering rigour can make a decisive difference to claims outcomes.
Dr Richard Gregory opened with a session on fixed and floating object (FOD) claims, working through the full picture: fender performance and berthing forces, the range of structures vulnerable to vessel impacts, how to assess whether observed damage is actually structural, and the forensic investigation process, from the scientific method through to identifying proximate and secondary causes. The session closed with a marine case study illustrating how a forensic approach, on-site testing and laboratory analysis combined to determine the true cause of degradation in a reinforced concrete structure.
Colin Duncan followed with a session on crane incident investigation, structured around the three principal causes of crane failures: design, fabrication and installation issues; maintenance and inspection failings; and operational issues including stevedore handling, rigging errors and the consequences of lifting too quickly. Colin illustrated each category with video footage of real-world crane failures, a sobering reminder that, whatever the root cause, the end result is too often catastrophic.
Ken Ellam took the opportunity during the evening to introduce the newest members of the Solis team including Kalai in our Malaysia office and Afri in Jakarta, Indonesia. Their details can be found on our website.
Our thanks to everyone who joined us for a lively and engaging evening.