Cosco ship splits Durban caisson

TERRY HUTSON
THE COSCO container ship Dainty River collided with one of the three remaining concrete anti submarine caissons in the entrance channel of Durban Harbour on Saturday night.
The incident occurred with a harbour pilot on board and in pouring rain. According to divers employed to remove the caissons ahead of the planned widening and deepening of the entrance channel (aimed at avoiding precisely this type of incident), the caisson was broken into two sections by the force of the collision “which has made our job easier.”
The damage to the ship, which later proceeded to the container terminal to discharge her cargo, consists of a badly buckled bulbous bow and a number of holes on the port side. Possible damage to the bottom of the ship will be fully assessed on Thursday after the 22 646-gt vessel enters dry dock.
There is no reported damage to containers or cargo on board the vessel. As a result of the collision the port was closed on Sunday morning to allow divers to examine the channel for debris that may be obstructing the entrance.