A container gantry crane in Taiwan’s Keelung port collapsed on 14 October, after it was allegedly hit by a to-be-installed crane on an incoming heavy-load carrier.
The vessel in question, the 2012-built 12,135 dwt Yu Zhou Qi Hang, was preparing to dock at Pier 20 after arriving from Shanghai, China. Yu Zhou Qi Hang was delivering a newly ordered gantry crane, labelled BC-207, to China Container Terminal Corporation, which operates piers 18 to 21.
As Yu Zhou Qi Hang, which is owned by Hainan Yuzhou International, docked at the pier, the BC-207 came into contact with the existing crane on Pier 20, knocking it over.
No one was hurt in the incident and only one container sustained damage.
In a statement, China Container Terminal Corporation said: “Our company’s newly purchased bridge crane BC-207 was shipped on the Chinese heavy-load carrier Yu Zhou Qi Hang. When it berthed at Keelung Port West Pier 20 on 14 October, it accidentally hit the existing bridge crane on the shore, causing its collapse.
“The fallen crane is owned by our company. At the time of the incident, it was shut down and we were waiting for the new crane to be delivered. Therefore, there were no casualties. All the cranes and containers affected by this case were fully insured and are currently covered by insurance and notarisation. We will investigate the cause of the accident.”
Keelung Port’s Deputy Director Song I-ching stated that China Container Terminal Corporation and the owner of Yu Zhou Qi Hang would discuss the incident.
Local media quoted Song as saying: “If a new crane is purchased now, it will cost more than TW$250 million (US$7.77 million). The claim settlement or accident liability assessment will have to be done by both parties and professionally evaluated.”
A representative of Taiwan International Ports Corporation’s Keelung branch claimed that piers 20 and 21 were closed to receive new container gantry cranes from 14 to 18 October, and the accident disrupted operations there.
Martina Li
Asia Correspondent
