Crane Malfunction Causes Container Spill in Yantian Port

Incident Disrupts Port Operations as Investigation Begins

Port authorities in Yantian, along with Chinese officials, are investigating the cause of a gantry crane malfunction that occurred on the morning of September 16. While no injuries were reported, several containers were knocked into the harbor, and others were damaged aboard the MSC feeder ship MSC Riona.

The 23,000 dwt MSC Riona, with a capacity of 1,730 TEU, was docked and preparing for container handling at the time of the incident. The vessel, built in 1998 and acquired by MSC in 2021, operates a route connecting China, Singapore, and the Philippines.

Official reports state that the crane arm collapsed while being prepared for use, falling onto container stacks on the MSC Riona. Images from the scene show one severely damaged container in the water, with others displaced on the ship and dock.

As a safety precaution, port officials suspended operations involving the MSC Riona and two additional gantry cranes of the same age and manufacturer. While operations at berth 2 were disrupted, the rest of the Yantian port continued to function normally.

There is no indication that the vessel contributed to the crane’s failure. However, the MSC Riona was previously cited for deficiencies in May 2024, including issues with its main propulsion engines. The ship passed a follow-up inspection the next day with a clean report.