On November 9th, around noon, a significant incident occurred at Shenzhen’s Yantian Port involving the large container ship “MAERSK CINCINNATI” owned by Maersk. The vessel collided with a shore bridge while docking, resulting in the collapse of the bridge and affecting the cargo yard behind it. As of now, the official causation of the incident and whether there have been any casualties or property damage remains unconfirmed pending an official release.
Images and videos circulating online depict parts of the collapsed bridge structure extending into the cargo yard area, closely adjacent to the ship’s hull.
On November 10th, the international shipping media outlet Splash247 reported that the accident transpired at Berth 12 of Yantian Port. It was specifically noted that the involved container ship struck the dock’s shore bridge during its docking procedure, causing large unloading equipment to fall.
At the time of the incident, the vessel was operating on the Asia to Northern Europe route under voyage number 645W, part of a collaborative shipping network known as “Gemini” operated by Maersk in partnership with Hapag-Lloyd. According to the scheduled itinerary, after completing operations at Yantian Port, the vessel was slated to depart on November 11th, continuing its journey to Ningbo, Shanghai, and Tanjung Pelepas in Malaysia, before finally reaching Europe.
Industry experts speculate that the ship may have been affected by sudden strong winds while docking, causing it to deviate from its intended position and subsequently strike the bridge. However, this explanation has not been verified by an official investigation, and the exact cause of the incident is still awaited for further clarification.
Currently, the operators of Yantian Port, Maersk, and maritime authorities have yet to release an official statement regarding the incident. The status of casualties, as well as damage to the vessel and cargo, has not received authoritative confirmation. The circumstances surrounding the cause of the accident and the anticipated recovery time for the berth are also pending official disclosures.
Yantian Port is a vital hub for international trade in China, serving as a key maritime thoroughfare connecting Southern China to European and North American markets. The efficient operation of large shore bridges at the port is crucial for the docking efficiency of vessels, container loading and unloading, and subsequent scheduling of shipping timelines.
According to publicly available maritime data, the “MAERSK CINCINNATI” was constructed in 2024 and is registered under the flag of Singapore. It measures approximately 366 meters in length and 51 meters in width, with a maximum capacity of 15,516 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEU), categorizing it as a large deep-sea container ship. This marked the second significant incident for the vessel since it began operations.
Historical data on maritime accidents indicates that on September 15, 2024, while navigating near Richards Bay on the East Coast of South Africa, smoke was detected emanating from one of the ship’s cargo holds. During that incident, the ship’s owners coordinated with fire personnel and potential professional maritime rescue teams for assistance, keeping the vessel anchored in nearby waters until the situation could be adequately managed.