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The Atlantic Marine Construction crane toppled over around 1:15 p.m. while workers were pulling up old wooden dock pilings, according to witnesses and marina employees. No one was injured.
Win LaForce, a University of South Carolina student who works at Palmetto Bay Water Sports, said the crane was attached to a cable that was tied around a piling. The crane was pulling up on the cable and the cable either slipped off the piling or snapped.
LaForce said it was like watching a catapult as the arm of the crane was propelled over the crane's cabin. The operator was able to jump out to safety, while the metal crane arm listed precariously over the two boats, according to observers.
Richard Bradley said he was outside washing the back of his boat, "One Love," when he heard a whipping noise from the crane.
"It whipped up and teetered and started to lean back against itself," Bradley said. "And then all of a sudden, it came crashing down on the two boats."
Bradley said he ran over and started knocking on the boats to see if anyone was hurt.
He learned quickly that the houseboat's owner, Cindy Holland, had been inside on her couch, just feet away from where the crane landed on her boat.
"She said it almost killed her," Bradley said. "She was shaken, and her dog appeared more scared than she was."
Holland declined to comment.
A sailboat belonging to Brasstown, N.C., resident Troy Conner also was in the path of the crane.
The boat, called "Magic," had its forward shroud, the rope or wire that supports the mast, snapped.
Bradley said it was a miracle the mast didn't fall, causing even more damage.
Palmetto Bay Marina harbor master Chris Wimmer said his company has worked with Beaufort-based Atlantic Marine for decades, adding the construction team was highly skilled.
"The guys on that crew have been doing this type of work for over 20 years," Wimmer said. "But accidents happen. It's just the nature of the beast if you're in this business long enough."
Officers with the U.S. Coast Guard's Charleston office, which is investigating the accident, had not finished an assessment of the damage by late in the day Monday.
Sean Shrum, civilian controller for the Coast Guard, said Atlantic Marine was sending a barge and another crane to pick up the fallen one.
Atlantic Marine's owner did not return a message left lateMonday. An employee with the company said workers were still gathering details about how the accident occurred.
