Exclusive: Mobile crane will take down St George Wharf crane
A mobile crane will be erected to dismantle the crane on the St George Wharf tower
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A source close to the team working on the recovery of the damaged crane on London’s St George Wharf tower has told CMME that the crane will be taken down by using a mobile crane.
CMME understands that a number of options, including the use of a heavy lift helicopter, were examined.
Because of the disruption and damage caused by the accident, CMME was told the preferred solution is to erect a mobile crane to take down the stricken Terex Comedil luffing jib crane.
The 50-storey tower is close to its full height with the crane elevated to almost 200m. A section of the crane fell on a car below and much of the structure is currently vertically suspended above the busy Vauxhall area of London.
If a mobile crane is to be used, then it is unlikely that the whole crane needs to be taken down. The second crane could be placed to extract the relatively light section of the jib.
London’s Met Police has confirmed that two people were killed, including the pilot while 15 others were injured.