The investigation by WBM Engineers concluded the collapse was initiated by the final severing of an internal fatigue crack in a weld in one of RL1’s undercarriage legs.
The major damage to RL1, including the undercarriage, the bucketwheel boom and associated conveyor, the yard conveyors, and other components of the conveyor, was caused by a sequence of events which occurred during the collapse process, subsequent to the ultimate failure of the weld in the undercarriage leg.
The investigation findings were consistent with preliminary views by Prime Infrastructure and DBCT.
Insurers are considering the investigation findings and the viability of repairing or replacing RL1, which has now been dismantled and stored on-site.
