[WRE | SPOTLIGHT]
REID GANTRY Makes Miracle Seal Rescue Possible
T
he versatility of Reid Lifting’s Porta-Gantry range has once again been demonstrated, this time during the heart-warming rescue of a seal pup trapped by boulders on a South Wales beach, which has since been successfully released to the wild.
Te 5,000kg working load limit (WLL) gantry system was erected above the seal, nicknamed Miracle by volunteers, and levelled out on an uneven surface created by rocks on Aberavon Beach in Port Talbot. It was utilized to remove boulders, originally thought to be approximately 1,000kg in weight, which was the linchpin to the whole rescue operation. Nic de Celis, a Royal Society for the Prevention of
Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) inspector, said: “Tis was, unquestionably, the most technical rescue I have ever been involved with as an RSPCA inspector. Te modular-type, specialist-lifting gantry was integral to completing this rescue. We now know the boulders that had to be moved to access the seal weighed approximately 3t. I was also amazed how straightforward it was for one operator to lift such a heavy boulder utilizing this equipment. We’re very grateful to the RSPCA’s Llys Nini branch, which kindly contributed funding towards the hire of the equipment. Te whole rescue was a real team effort, and something I am immensely proud to have been involved in.” Te rescue was a multi-organization operation
involving Lifting Gear & Safety, from where the gantry was sourced; the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI); British Divers’ Marine Life Rescue; Sea-Lift Diving Ltd.; Associated British Ports (ABP); and Neath Port Talbot Council. De Celis continued: “RSPCA animal welfare officer
Andrew Harris and I led and coordinated the rescue, with the specialist support of Sea-Lift Diving and a host of other agencies, to whom we’re so grateful. Alongside my RSPCA colleague [animal collection officer Ellie West] we were determined to bring the seal to safety.” Bryan Waddell, director at Sea-Lift, explained that mounting it on timber chocks levelled the gantry. Te surrounding boulders were drilled and fixed into
position to prevent cave-in during the rescue, which would have made it unsafe for the rescue team, put the seal further out of reach, and put the pup’s life in greater danger—or worse.
Gary Moorhouse, director at Lifting Gear & Safety, said: “Te rescue team quickly identified a need for an overhead lifting solution to remove a large boulder and a crane wasn’t an option due to the nature of the location and environment. Tey suspected it would be about 1t in weight but they opted for our 5t system to give them plenty of capacity to work with. We frequently supply Reid’s gantries for diverse applications, but this was the first time that one has been used for a wildlife rescue such as this.”
Marina, aka Miracle, was trapped ten feet below the surface of the rocks.
20
JULY–AUGUST 2018
WIRE ROPE EXCHANGE
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