Heavylift and rigging specialist Ropeblock, the designer of the faulty crane hook that caused the Orion accident, has said that based on the information that is currently available, it seems that the hook’s stem broke.
Ropeblock designed the lifting blocks and crane hook for the MV Orion’s heavy-lift crane which collapsed on Saturday 02 May while performing load tests at Liebherr’s manufacturing facility in the port of Rostock.
Ropeblock said the component was manufactured by a “certified supplier” familiar with similar and larger components.
“Prior to manufacture the design has been verified by the authorised notified body,” added a company statement.
A total of 12 people were injured, including two seriously, and the vessel itself is badly damaged.
Liebherr was quick to announce that investigators “unanimously agree” that the broken hook purchased from an external supplier was behind the accident and that design or production error of the Liebherr crane can, therefore, be excluded.
