Containership CMA CGM Pointe Noire Collides with Crane at Port of Livorno, Italy
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The containership CMA CGM Pointe Noire collided with a gantry crane at the Port of Livorno, Italy, while maneuvering toward its berth at the Darsena Toscana Terminal. The impact derailed the crane from its rails and left it tilted toward the water, leaving only two of the terminal's six units operational. The vessel was detained, and authorities opened an investigation to determine the causes and any possible liability.
The Maneuver
According to media reports, the vessel was being assisted by two tugboats in the turning basin when its superstructure struck the crane's boom, which was parked alongside the quay for maintenance work. No injuries were reported, and initial assessments indicated the vessel sustained minor damage.
The Vessel
The Pointe Noire, sailing under the Maltese flag, was built in 2024 and has a length overall of 272.2 meters according to MarineTraffic Maritime News, or 272 meters according to Baird Maritime, along with a beam of 42.8 meters. MarineTraffic Maritime News reported a gross tonnage of 74,721, while Baird Maritime specified a deadweight of 86,309 tonnes and a capacity of 8,000 TEU.
Safety Measures
The Livorno Coast Guard restricted navigation off berth 14, between bollards 15 and 29, within a radius of about 80 meters, to allow for the stabilization of the damaged crane. Technicians from the equipment manufacturer arrived on the same day as the incident to secure the structure, and the Darsena Toscana terminal submitted a structural stability report to the maritime authority, which summoned the ship's captain to testify on October 22. TDT's general manager, Marco Mignogna, told the local newspaper Il Tirreno that the causes of the accident remain unknown and that the investigation is ongoing, noting that the crane's position for maintenance had been agreed upon with the pilots and the maritime authority.
Date of the Incident and Outcome
There is a discrepancy regarding the exact date of the event: MarineTraffic Maritime News placed the collision on October 22, while Baird Maritime and Safety4Sea reported the incident as occurring on October 21. According to Safety4Sea, local reports from October 23 confirmed that the Pointe Noire had departed after being inspected by classification society RINA and the Coast Guard. Both Baird Maritime and Safety4Sea indicated that the damaged crane is expected to be removed in the coming days and that its repair could take several months.
