WASH STATE PORT BUYS CRANE JUST FOR WIND

Port operators in Washington state judge a $4.6 million expenditure for a crane to unload giant wind turbine parts is a valid and necessary one. Think there’s going to be some growth in wind energy installations in the Pacific Northwest?

Port of Longview buys $4.6 million crane
Erik Olson, December 1, 2007 (The Longview, Washington, Daily News)

WHO
Port of Longview commissioners (port Executive Director Ken O'Hollaren, Commissioner Darold Dietz), port consultants and management

Handling even a blade is a big task. Imagine what it takes to handle the tower or the tubine and housing. But nobody buys a tool like this unless they expect to have a lot of use for it.

WHAT
The port commissioners authorized the puchase of a $4.6 million mobile harbor crane for unloading wind energy turbine parts.

WHEN
Purchased from the port’s 2008 budget, the crane is expected to be installed in 33 weeks.

WHERE
- The crane will be manufactured and shipped from Austria.
- The wind equipment shipped through the port will be for wind energy installations in the Pacific Northwest.

Offshore wind turbine installation can require gargantuan "floating cranes" to do the job.

WHY
- The crane will be located at berth 8 but can be moved to berths 6 & 7.
- It will be used to unload wind towers, blades and turbines.
- The port presently rents a crane for the work. Dietz, the port commission’s newest member, was opposed until convinced by port consultants and management the purchase made financial sense.

QUOTES
Dietz: "They won me over, and I see that this is the right thing to do…"