Quick Take:
Cheers erupted as crews lifted the sunken crane from the ocean near the Santa Cruz Wharf Saturday, marking recovery from December's devastating pier collapse.
A long-submerged construction crane finally emerged from waters near the end of the Santa Cruz Municipal Wharf Saturday, nearly six months after a violent winter storm that ripped away 150 feet of the historic pier.
Onlookers gathered at the waterfront as crews encircled the submerged crane with containment barriers, safeguarding against potential fuel or oil leaks. “We’re doing this in a way that makes sure that we’re not polluting the bay,” Santa Cruz Mayor Fred Keeley said. He noted that after nearly half a year underwater, the crane had become a makeshift home to local sea life. “Fish see it as a reef,” he said. “Nature doesn’t take very long to adapt to things.”
The extraction took several hours and proved challenging. Strong winds complicated the operation as workers struggled to prevent support ropes from tangling. Below the surface, divers secured the submerged crane to a second crane stationed nearby. When the massive piece of equipment finally rose from the waters, cheers erupted from the crowd, where longtime residents swapped stories and videos of the December swells with curious tourists.
The winter storm tore off the end of the wharf, which was under construction at the time, and tossed two workers, construction equipment and debris into the ocean.
Power Engineering Construction led Saturday’s recovery effort, coordinating with local, state and federal agencies, along with the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk and the Santa Cruz Harbor.
The cleanup continues through Sunday. The wharf restaurants and stores remain open for shopping and dining.
–With reports from Ashley Harmon and Brittany Ramirez