Third Tadano rough terrain gifted to Easter Island

Japanese manufacturer Tadano has donated its third rough terrain crane to the people of Easter Island, 4,000 miles off the coast of Chile.

Tadano first gave the islanders a rough terrain back in 1991; it made a second donation in 2005; and now, in 2022, it has given yet a third crane, this time a GR-1000XL.

Tadano had decided to donate the crane in 2019 as part of its 100th anniversary celebration and to further the valued relationship with Chile and Easter Island. The pandemic caused numerous shipping postponements and the crane spent two years on mainland Chile before it was finally delivered to Easter Island on January 26, 2022, to cheers and applause from local residents.

The first Easter Island Tadano was donated in 1991 to help with the Moai Restoration Project. Easter Island is home to the unique and extraordinary Moai heads. These are statues, carved some time around 1300AD, from single bocks of stone, each one some 10m high and weighing around 80 tonnes. They were carved by the islanders and somehow transported, by manpower alone, and set up all over the island.

Over the centuries many had fallen down. By 1995, in a major undertaking that involved the Chilean government, embassy, navy, archaeologists from Japan and Chile, and local islanders, Tadano’s donated crane had helped restore 15 of the legendary statues to their altars in Ahu Tongariki, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Afterwards it proved extremely useful for transporting supplies and assisting with public works projects until weather and heavy use took it out of commission in 2003. Tadano donated a second crane, a TR-600XL, as a replacement in 2005. Fourteen years later, the decision was made to donate a third crane.

For the donation itself, Tadano worked with SASIPA, an organisation focused on the quality of life for inhabitants of Easter Island. Stakeholders such as the Chilean government, the State of Valparaiso and Chilean customs officers were also consulted. The sea journey from Puerto Montt to Easter Island took seven days. Upon arrival at Easter Island, it was necessary to transfer the crane, dismantled, to small boats offshore, since Easter Island does not have a port capable of handling a large ship.

Once on the island, Tadano service engineers reassembled the GR-1000XL. They also had a chance to examine the TR-600XL crane that was donated in 2005. It was quite rusty and needed significant repairs, which are in the process of being made. This will provide Easter Island with two Tadano cranes that can be used for ongoing needs and projects.

Local resident Ms. Mogami described what happened. “When the ship carrying the crane arrived on the island, it was broadcast on the island radio ‘the Tadano machine is here!’” she said. “Many islanders went to see the unloading of the crane, and when it was completed safely, it was surrounded by many cheers.”

“We have no factories on our island. We can be self-sufficient in vegetables, fruits, and fish but for other supplies, we have to rely on mainland Chile so we mostly rely on sea transportation for supplies. The crane is being used for unloading the supplies and cargos and things like propane gas tanks and vehicles.”

“We are grateful,” said Ms. Yuko. “Wonderful is the only word we would use to describe it.”