A K Line-controlled containership has dramatically collided with a container crane as it arrived at the Pusan Newport Company causing the structure to collapse onto its stern.
The accident happened today at around 3pm, South Korean time, as the 13,870-teu Milano Bridge (built 2018), which was without cargo on board, attempted to arrive at the container berth.
As it turned to starboard, its stern swings directly into the crane’s legs causing it to collapse, destroying the crane.
One eye witness describing the effect the impact had on the crane said: “It seemed to turn the crane into noodles.”
It is unclear if there were any injuries in the accident.
The Milano Bridge is owned by Japan’s K Line. However it is on charter to One Ocean Network (ONE), the all-Japanese boxship joint venture company.
“ONE is urgently looking into the circumstances of this (accident) and is giving full co-operation to the terminal operators and the local authorities in Busan,” it said.
The commercial management of the ship is with K Line. But its International Safety Management (ISM) manager is listed by port state control data base Equasis as Singapore based Fleet Management.
The vessel is listed as owned by MI DAS Shipping, a company linked to Japanese shipowner Doun Shipping.
The ship’s protection and indemnity cover is with the Japan P&I Club which is likely to face a costly claim as a result of the accident.
Similar crane and ship collisions in the past have run up claims running up to tens of millions of US dollars for P&I insurers, which are liable for the loss of the crane and the ship but also disruption caused to the port as a result of the accident.
The Milano Bridge’s stern section looks to have sustained significant damage in the accident, with at least one row of cell guides ripped off the vessel.
Claims in excess of $10m are shared between the members of the International Group of P&I Clubs.
It is understood the vessel was scheduled to be fitted with a scrubber.
K Line and ONE have been contacted for comment.
