IEN Radio

Rope Failure Causes $5 Million in Damages

• Eric Sorensen

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In yet another instance of the cost of catastrophic failure likely outweighing the cost of maintenance, a rope has racked up millions in damages after failing.

In July 2022, cargo ship Thorco Basilisk was offloading part of a wind turbine at Greensport Terminal on the Houston Ship Channel in Houston. In the process, a hoisting rope broke on the ship-mounted crane. When it did, it caused the component to fall onto the ship’s cargo tween deck, causing between $3 million and $5 million in damages to the ship and the wind turbine part.