Friday round up: Mobile crane guides, wage theft crisis, safety below the hook, moving massive submarines

A 400-ton capacity CC2400 crawler crane owned by Mammoet removed the largest component from a tunnel boring machine using an elaborate sling system designed to lift the boring head.

We started the week with commentary from David Duerr, P.E. (ret.), who reported exclusively for Crane & Transport Briefing on two new crane guides published by the SC&RA and ASME. These comprehensive works look specifically at enhancing the planning of supports for mobile cranes and aim to provide industry professionals with up-to-date resources and best practices.

On Tuesday, Joel Dandrea explained how wage theft in the construction industry is rapidly emerging as a global issue, affecting millions of workers across borders. The cost of this theft is astronomical, costing USA workers an estimated US$15 billion annually. He discusses reasons why and offers solutions to protect against exploitation.

Wednesday’s briefing looked at how below-the-hook lifting devices play a crucial role in many industrial lifting operations. Written exclusively for Crane and Transport Briefing by Henry Brozyna, our lead story delves into the specific requirements needed for the design, use and inspection of these lifters to ensure operators and equipment are kept safe.

Submarine transportation is an engineering feat requiring skillful planning, precision, and adaptability, often in challenging conditions. Over the years we have written about a surprising number of these arresting and always impressive moves. On Thursday we rounded up some of the most spectacular projects that showcase the logistical mastery needed to relocate these massive, complex and somewhat ungainly vessels, whether overland or up from the sea floor.

On July 28, 2024, the U17 submarine reaches the Sinsheim Technology Museum after a 4-week journey. The project involved the world’s first rotation of a submarine on a modular platform trailer. Photo: TII