Italian authorities are investigating cargo handling and ballasting operations after a small general cargo ship tilted during a loading operation in the Port of Genoa.
Maritime Executive reports that the Genoa prosecutor’s office said it had decided to investigate whether the ballasting operations had been carried out correctly. The Harbour Master’s office is also investigating the incident. There were no serious injuries or pollution reported as a result of the incident.
The 3 715-dwt Seven S, a Panama-flagged general cargo ship, was docked at the Messina Group berth loading eco-bales on Tuesday when the vessel suddenly tilted to one side and then heaved onto its starboard side. The ship stopped swaying when it came to rest at a dangerous angle against the pier, according to the terminal operator. Fire and emergency services attended the scene and evacuated the crew and dockworkers from the vessel. According to local reports, one person was treated for minor injuries at the scene.
The terminal operator said in a statement that it had been following the instructions from the ship’s master for the operation and the bales were being loaded according to plan. The vessel had arrived from Termini Imerese, a port in Sicily near Palermo. It was headed to Bulgaria.
Firefighters were lowered into the cargo hold to assist the crew to offload the bales and the vessel regained buoyancy and stability.
