Classification
- Incident Type: Allision
- Severity: High
- Tug involvement: Yes
- Tug mechanism: Tugs assisted the emergency response and fire engines were dispatched to the scene.
Vessel Details
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Vessel Name | COSCO Hope |
| Vessel Type | Container |
| Flag State | Hong Kong [HK] |
| IMO Number | 9472165 |
| Gross Tonnage | 141823 |
| LOA (m) | 366 |
| Breadth (m) | 48 |
| TEU | 13092 |
| Year Built | 2012 |
| Owner/Operator | |
| Crew Size |
Incident Details
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Date | 2016-05-03 |
| Location | Suez Canal Container Terminal, Port Said |
| Coordinates | 31.2632, 32.3055 |
| Region | Egypt |
| Fatalities | 0 |
| Injuries | at least 2 |
| Missing | |
| Cargo Loss | More than 20 containers were involved in the fire; total cargo loss was not quantified. |
| Direct Damage | Collapse of gantry crane 17, fire involving more than 20 containers, reported damage to adjacent cranes, and minor starboard-side indentations to COSCO Hope. |
| Economic Damage |
Key facts
- COSCO Hope struck gantry crane 17 with its stern while manoeuvring to depart the terminal.
- The crane boom collapsed onto containers at berth 7, followed by an explosion and fire involving more than 20 containers.
- At least two port workers were injured; no deaths were reported in the linked coverage.
- Tugs and fire engines were dispatched, and the fire was reported under control by dawn.
- COSCO Hope was reported to have left the terminal and anchored at Port Said with minor starboard-side indentations.
Narrative
Shortly after midnight on 3 May 2016, COSCO Hope was manoeuvring to leave the Suez Canal Container Terminal at Port Said for La Spezia when its stern struck gantry crane 17. The Roose+Partners casualty newsletter reported that the crane boom collapsed onto containers at berth 7. An explosion and fire followed, involving more than 20 containers and damaging or collapsing adjacent cranes.
The Suez Canal Authority and Port Said Authority dispatched tugs and fire engines. The newsletter reported that the fire was brought under control by dawn and that terminal operations were suspended. It also recorded that at least two port workers were injured. The linked gCaptain coverage said that no deaths had been reported.
The vessel itself was reported to have sustained minor indentations on its starboard side. After the casualty, COSCO Hope departed the terminal and anchored at Port Said. The newsletter stated that the cause of the fire was undetermined, while noting possible contact with a tank container carrying inflammable chemicals or a fuel tank. The available sources do not establish the cause of the allision, quantify the terminal or cargo losses, or provide final casualty outcomes beyond the reported injuries and absence of reported deaths.
Sequence of events
| Date/time | Event |
|---|---|
| 2016-05-03 shortly after midnight | COSCO Hope struck gantry crane 17 with its stern while manoeuvring to depart the terminal. |
| 2016-05-03 | The crane boom collapsed onto containers at berth 7; an explosion and fire followed. |
| 2016-05-03 by dawn | The fire was reported under control after tugs and fire engines responded. |
| 2016-05-03 | COSCO Hope departed the terminal and anchored at Port Said; terminal operations were suspended. |
Investigation
The Roose+Partners newsletter reported that a full investigation was under way. No official investigation finding has been identified in the available material, and the cause of the allision remains unresolved.
References
- Roose+Partners Casualty Newsletter, Edition 162
- Major Damage After COSCO Containership Crashes Into Crane at Egypt’s Port Said