Falling crane boom hurts sailors on USS Gunston Hall
NORFOLK — Two sailors were injured aboard the USS Gunston Hall on Thursday when a part of a crane at a civilian shipyard fell onto the amphibious dock landing ship, according to the Navy. Lt. Cmdr. Courtney Hillson, a spokeswoman for Naval Surface Force Atlantic, said the sailors were treated for minor injuries.
Hillson said the crane boom — which is the fixed arm used to move objects — fell on the Gunston Hall while it was in drydock at Colonna’s Shipyard, Inc. about 7:05 a.m.
An initial assessment showed there was minor damage to the ship around its flight deck, Hillson said.
Dock landing ships carry Marines and their equipment and can support amphibious landings and humanitarian missions.
The Gunston Hall completed its most recent deployment to South America in September and entered the shipyard in May to conduct routine maintenance. Its home port is Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek in Virginia Beach.