Dramatic moment towering harbour crane smashes to the ground when 1,000ft container ship crashes into it after breaking from its moorings in high winds at the port of Antwerp
- The ship, APL Mexico City, drifted from its mooring in the dock in Belgium
- Crashed into Liebherr STS gantry crane – part of DP World’s Antwerp Gateway
- Wind speed of 40 knots and gusts of 45 caused the container to break away
- No injuries were reported in collision and area around the dock was evacuated
A container ship destroyed a huge harbour crane after the vessel broke loose from its mooring and smashed into the structure in the Belgian port of Antwerp.
Footage shows the 1076.8ft APL Mexico City drifting out to sea from the Deurganck dock in Antwerp, at 2pm on Monday.
The container collided with the Liebherr STS gantry crane which is part of DP World’s Antwerp Gateway terminal on Monday.
The APL Mexico City drifts from its mooring in the Deurganck dock in Antwerp, Belgium, at 2pm on Monday
Workers on another boat film the horrifying crash and are seen using radios to report the collision
Wind speed, recorded at 40 knots, and crashing waves can be heard as workers on another boat are seen using radios to report the collision.
Footage filmed from the boat shows the 170.6ft crane crumble from the impact before crashing into the sea as the carrier continues to drift away from the dock.
Johan Steegmans posted a clip to Twitter of the crash showing the container collide with the crane as workers can be heard gasping in horror.
Because the container was moored, it was not under direct Vessel Traffic Service guidance.
The STS Liebherr cranes plummet to the ground and crash in the sea. There were no injuries in reported in the incident
On reports of the boat drifting out to sea, the service dispatched tugboats and a pilot boat to stop the vessel in its tracks.
‘We saw the ship make a strange and sudden movement,’ said the VTS watch officer on duty,’ according to The Maritime Executive.
Crew on board were unable to control the boxship causing the APL Mexico City to strike the outstretched gantry of the crane.
Johan Steegmans posted a clip showing the container drift into the crane (left). The crane plummets to the ground and crashes into the sea (right)
The video shows the crane collapse into the sea which damaged the quay and APL Mexico.
The two Liebherr gantry cranes can lift up to 100 tons.
They cranes were installed in January last year costing £17.7million as part of an expansion project to handle the largest container vessels.
There were no injuries reported in the collision and the area was swiftly evacuated.
APL Mexico City has now been moored but will need repairs before she can set sail again, according to The Maritime Executive.
The port temporarily suspended navigation for safety reasons following gusts of 45 knots.
Given the weather conditions, the port authority temporarily suspended navigation for safety reasons, local media reported and DP World said operations would resume soon.