PORT TOWNSEND — The Port of Port Townsend commissioners will replace a hoist which was broken after a cable snapped in January.
The commissioners looked at three options Wednesday: buying a new 75-ton hoist or replacing the broken one with an upgrade by purchasing one of two available 85-ton hoists.
Director of Operations Greg Englin said port officials are awaiting calculations from engineers to make sure the small pier that was used by the 75-ton hoist would be able to handle an 85-ton lift.
“That would open up that market that couldn’t be handled by the 75-ton lift,” Englin said. “In the long term, it’s a no-brainer.”
Englin said when he talked to some of the business owners operating in the boat yard, the consensus was a larger lift would be better for the port in the long term and could be here faster than a new 75-ton lift.
“We want to get that here before the season really picks up,” Englin said.
The commissioners approved an 85-ton lift if engineers conclude that the pier can handle it, and a 75-ton if it can’t.
“I really don’t want to wait another couple weeks to bring this back to us,” said port Commissioner Pete Hanke.
The cost is estimated to be just over $502,600 for the 85-ton hoist and $439,500 for a 75-ton lift. That cost will come out of the port’s capital budget — potentially bumping some projects the port was planning to start this year.
The port commissioners will have to amend the capital plan for 2017-18 later this month, according to Sam Gibboney, port executive director.
A cable broke on the 75-ton hoist Jan. 30 while lowering a 56-foot fishing vessel at the Boat Haven in Port Townsend back into the marina. The broken cable caused one side of the hoist to be pulled off the track.
No one was hurt. The vessel, Bernice from Lopez Island, wasn’t dropped and sustained only minor damages.
Some paint was scraped off the sides of the boat and one of the railings on the side of the boat and the rigging on the boat were damaged when the boat was left dangling from the broken hoist.
The boat was eventually put into the water and then pulled out of the water by the port’s larger 300-ton hoist.
Currently the port is working with a 300-ton lift and a 60-ton lift.
“That’s working for now when it’s slow,” Englin said. “That’s not going to work when it gets busy.”
________
Jefferson County Editor/Reporter Cydney McFarland can be reached at 360-385-2335, ext. 55052, or at cmcfarland@peninsuladailynews.com.
