Dillingham, a fishing village in Alaska with a population of around 2,400 is hoping to have a new crane by early July to replace the 1967 Manitowoc that was found to have a gear issue during a routine maintenance inspection last month.
Harbor master Jean Barrett said the city council decided to buy a new crane this week after hearing their options – fixing the old crane for $200,000, buying other cranes, or buying this new one for $1.5 million.
“It’s a Link-Belt 248 HLS, it’s a 200 ton capacity crane, brand new, 2016 model,” he said.
The new 200-ton crane has a little heavier capacity than the 150-ton crane model it’ll replace.
“It’s gonna make it easier to pick the things we have been picking,” Barrett said. “The batch plants for instance that come to town to do the paving. Some of the heavier equipment that come off of the barges. Bigger picks like that will be easier and safer. And safety is our number one priority.”
The crane is supposed to get loaded onto the barge in Seattle June 6, and arrive in Dillingham at the beginning of July.
“Just in time to haul fish. Swing all those containers of fish out of here” Barrett said.
Dillingham, Port
