Photo of Carolyn Skaves spudded down after the casualty.

​Carolyn Skaves spudded down after the casualty. ​ (Source: US Coast Guard​​)

Loss of Crane on board Construction Barge Carolyn Skaves

What Happened

​​On February 8, 2022, about 0725 local time, the construction barge Carolyn Skaves was spudded down in the Willoughby Bay area on the south side of the Hampton Roads Bridge Tunnel in Norfolk, Virginia, when the crane operator shifted the position of the onboard crawler crane toward the stern, and the crane toppled off the barge into the water. The crane was later recovered and declared a total constructive loss. An oil sheen was visible after the casualty; there were no injuries reported. The value of the crane was estimated at $2 million.

What We Found

​We determined that that the probable cause of the crane toppling off the deck of the construction barge Carolyn Skaves was the lack of a spotter during a crane movement and the failure of the centerline cable system used to secure the crane to the barge. Contributing was ineffective company oversight of barge operations.​

Lessons Learned

​​​​​Construction Barge Crawler Crane Movement

All repositioning of a crawler crane on a construction barge—no matter how routine—should be adequately planned and risk-assessed. All personnel involved in movement operations should be clearly identified and their duties understood, including spotting. A method such as a cable system or other physical attachment to prevent the crane from falling off the barge must also be in place before moving the crawler crane as required by Occupational Health and Safety Administration regulations. 

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