Gantry crane slightly damaged by vessel at Ctg port

Container handling was hampered at a jetty of Chattogram port today after a container vessel hit a quayside gantry crane, damaging it partially.

Confirming the accident, Chattogram Port Authority (CPA) Secretary Md Omar Faruk said the vessel, MV Mount Cameron, knocked one of three quayside gantry cranes at jetty No 2 of New Mooring Container Terminal (NCT) around 12noon while taking berth.

The accident occurred when the vessel was taking a turn in order to berth at jetty No 5 of NCT, he said.

Minor damage occurred at the crane as some wires were torn after the accident, the CPA official said.

A probe body was formed led by CPA Dock Master Abu Sufian to investigate into the accident.

However, a source at the port said, following the accident, the crane became out of operation and thus container handling from a vessel TR Porthos anchored at the jetty got slowed down.

Usually, three quayside gantry cranes are installed at the jetty and each of the three cranes can handle around 20 to 25 containers per hour.

There are 14 such quayside gantry cranes are in the port, the most required container handling equipment.