
NessCampbell Crane + Rigging, the Pacific Northwest’s reliable crane and rigging solutions provider, has made an impressive addition to its fleet with their recent acquisition of the newest all-terrain crane from the Manitowoc Company: the Grove GMK6450-1. Supplied by Western Pacific Crane & Equipment, this 500 US ton-capacity mobile crane is the first of its kind to be used in North America. Its first project involved assisting a Manitowoc 3900 crawler crane in assembling a new towboat at Western Towboat’s Seattle facility, certainly marking the beginning of many more impressive projects to follow.
Powering Heavy Lifts with Precision
The Grove GMK6450-1 demonstrated its capabilities by tackling two critical tasks in the towboat assembly process at the shipyard: lifting and rotating a 135,000-pound hull into position and placing the 58,000-pound towboat house onto the hull. The narrow confines of the Western Towboat shipyard and rough weather patterns presented logistical and operational challenges, but NessCampbell’s team, alongside Western Towboat’s crew, executed each step with ease.
“Having the new Grove GMK6450-1 was crucial for this project. It allowed us to lift heavy components with the reliability and precision we require,” said Josh Buege, project manager for NessCampbell. “Our highly trained team, coupled with this outstanding crane, guaranteed a safe and smooth assembly process for Western Towboat.”

Setting New Standards with the Grove GMK6450-1
Delivered to Western Pacific Crane & Equipment’s Arlington, Washington facility, the crane underwent a thorough inspection led by Western Pacific Crane & Equipment and Manitowoc factory technicians. To ensure optimal performance, NessCampbell’s operators and mechanics received comprehensive hands-on machine orientation and in-depth guidance. This preparation equipped their team with the knowledge and skills to fully harness the crane’s capabilities and effectively manage any service-related needs.
“We chose this model for its superior luffing jib capabilities and ease of deployment,” explained John Anderson, President of NessCampbell. “With the GMK6450-1, our fleet is more capable than ever, enabling us to serve our clients more effectively.”




NessCampbell collaborated with Western Pacific Crane & Equipment to select the Grove GMK6450-1, chosen for its array of innovative features, including:
- The strongest heavy-duty 6-axle crane on the market
- Self-rigging MegaWingLift™ and auxiliary hoist
- Powerful luffing jib
- MAXbase™ variable outrigger positioning, increasing capacity on the main boom
- All axle weights under 22,000 pounds, providing easy road transport
- Superior maneuverability with all-wheel steering
“We strive to offer our customers lifting solutions that provide a competitive edge for the markets they serve. The new GMK6450-1, combined with its strong capacity charts and maneuverability, is an excellent fit to further enhance NessCampbell’s crane fleet.”
General Manager of Western Pacific Crane & Equipment, Randy DeFosse
Elevating Lifting Solutions Across Industries
The addition of the Grove GMK6450-1 to NessCampbell’s fleet through Western Pacific Crane & Equipment highlights a shared commitment to fostering strong partnerships and delivering exceptional customer service to NessCampbell and all other valued clients. As Randy DeFosse, General Manager of Western Pacific Crane & Equipment, remarked, “Our team was very excited to deliver this new GMK6450-1 to NessCampbell. We strive to offer our customers lifting solutions that provide a competitive edge for the markets they serve. The new GMK6450-1, combined with its strong capacity charts and maneuverability, is an excellent fit to further enhance NessCampbell’s crane fleet. We truly appreciate our continued strong business relationship with NessCampbell.”
Ready to tackle your next challenging lift? Contact Western Pacific Crane & Equipment today to explore the heavy-duty solutions tailored to your needs.