A crane from Prince Rupert will be on its way to the islands as soon as weather allows to fix pilings that fell over at the Masset small craft harbour during a December storm. Wharfinger Al Ward said no one was injured and no boats were damaged in the Dec. 22 incident, but a part of the wharf remains unusable. The new pilings, which were just installed this summer, fell over in the windstorm, Mr. Ward said. “It was a good skookum wind,” he said. “It blew the whole works over… They were brand new, brand spanking new.” The southeast storm was strong but Mr. Ward said he has seen worse winds blow through with no damage to the harbour. Mr. Ward said about 18 boats had to be moved after the pilings collapsed. The harbour is full right now and the boats had to be doubled and tripled up. Doug’s Crane Service from Prince Rupert is bringing over a crane on a scow as soon as possible, Mr. Ward said. The crane should be able to place the pilings upright, but he warned that it won’t be an easy task.
