Pilot in the spotlight as investigations continue into Dubai’s spectacular crane accident

Investigations are ongoing into Thursday’s miraculous crane collapse at DP World’s flagship Jebel Ali terminal. One giant gantry crane collapsed and another was nudged out of position when an 11,000 teu UK-flagged CMA CGM Centaurus boxship ploughed into the quayside at Jebel Ali’s Terminal One last Thursday. Incredibly despite the destruction that ensued, no one died, with just 10 minor injuries reported.

The UK’s Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) confirmed to Splash that an investigation is underway.

“The UK registered container ship contacted the quay while berthing at Jebel Ali, United Arab Emirates. There are no reported injuries or pollution. Damage has been sustained to the ship, the quay and two shore cranes,” a spokesperson for MAIB said.

Terminal operator DP World is assisting in the investigation and will remove the debris once investigators have concluded their research into the incident.

“The incident last week had some immediate impact operationally in the days following and during our weekend peak on Terminal 1 but this has normalised again and it is business as usual,” a spokesperson for the terminal operator told Splash today.

The accident, viewed more than 43,000 times on this site, has sparked plenty of debate among Splash readers with some suggesting the pilot was to blame given the angle of the ship as it approaches the berth. Others have questioned whether the port operator had raised the crane boom as the 363 m long vessel came alongside.

The accident looks comparable to the Toba, a roro that made contact with the leg of a crane while berthing at White Bay, Sydney in 1997 in an accident that was subsequently blamed on pilot error.