Some major damage at Suez Canal Container Terminal in Egypt’s Port Said overnight after a containership apparently crashed into a gantry crane as it was leaving the port.
The vessel involved is reported to be the 366-meter, Hong Kong-flagged COSCO Hope.
Video and images posted online show several cranes collapsed or damaged, with stacks of containers knocked over and some even on fire.
Some reports have said that hazardous chemicals in one of the containers caused a large explosion at the site.
AIS data shows the COSCO Hope is currently at anchor just off Port Said.
The accident is believed to have happened shortly after midnight on Tuesday when the stern of the vessel somehow backed into the crane, causing it to fall over.
A few workers reportedly were injured in the accident, but no deaths have been reported.
Tuesday’s accident follows a similar incident in November 2015 when a large APL containership hit at crane at the Suez Canal Container Terminal, causing the crane to collapse onto the ship. Last week, the Suez Canal was blocked for about two days after a large containership ran aground on the southern end of the canal. The vessel was eventually refloated with the assistance of tugs.
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