Operations at the Port of Yantian was brought to a temporary halt when a ship-to-shore (STS) crane partially collapsed on to a vintage feeder box ship operated by the Mediterranean Shipping Company.
The incident occurred at approximately 08:40 local time in Shenzhen.
The MSC Riona, a 1998-built feeder container vessel with a capacity of 1 730 TEU, was on an intra-Asia service when the collision happened.
Local sources indicate that the crane was severely damaged, and several containers from the ship were knocked overboard into the sea.
Port authorities and MSC are working closely to assess the full extent of the damage.
Salvage operations are expected to begin promptly to recover the containers lost overboard, as well as to clear debris caused by the collapsed crane.
Yantian, one of the busiest ports in southern China, handles a significant volume of global trade, making the suspension of operations at berth two – where the incident occurred – a major disruption.
Authorities are aiming to resume operations as soon as safety checks and repairs are completed.
In the meantime, rerouting and adjustments are expected to be made to minimise delays.
The cause of the accident is under investigation, but preliminary reports suggest that adverse weather conditions or mechanical failure could have played a role. However, further details are yet to be confirmed.
