Found on YouTube. Created by "Marine-Pilots". Recorded on 2019-12-09.
Video AIS Track by Nolan Dragon - www.MarineTraffic.com
What had happened:
Container ship APL MEXICO CITY broke off her mooring at Doel, Antwerp, in the afternoon Dec 9, drifted across harbor and contacted DP World pier crane. Crane collapsed and was totally destroyed. No injures reported.
Cause of the accident (according to the report from FEBIMA):
"The allision of the mv APL MEXICO CITY with a gantry crane at the Port of Antwerp on 9 December 2019 stemmed from exceptional meteorological conditions and the not availability of tugboats to assist the vessel in remaining alongside as requested by the Master, that have lead to the breaking of seven mooring hawsers on the foreship of the vessel.
Subsequently, in order to gain control over the vessel and prevent damages the main engine of the ship was put ahead. All mooring hawsers at the stern of the vessel broke. The vessel subsequently sailed/drifted onto the gantry crane at the opposite side of the Deurganckdok thereby destroying it. The falling jib of the crane damaged the ship’s hull and propeller, rendering the vessel no longer seaworthy. In the further drifting/sailing onto the river Scheldt, a buoy and dolphin were damaged/destroyed."
Port of Antwerp, Belgium
