Terminal Information Update

On Friday 18 January 2008 at approximately 16:35, a major incident occurred at Southampton Container Terminals (SCT) involving the boom collapse of one of the terminal’s gantry cranes.  No one was injured in the incident.  As a precaution all shipside operations were immediately suspended.

As a precautionary measure, independent inspections are being carried out on each of our other gantry cranes to re-affirm that they are in a safe condition to operate. Once the inspections and recommended works are completed, cranes are being phased back into operation.

The terminal is currently operating with seven gantry cranes plus the mobile harbour crane (subject to planned routine maintenance).  Works are ongoing on the other gantry cranes and we expect to build up to nine gantry cranes plus the mobile harbour crane in mid March with the tenth crane returning to service in late April.

Talking about the incident, Campbell Mason, Managing Director, SCT, said:

“We are of course very thankful that no one was injured.  The incident has however been very disruptive for shipside operations at the terminal and we are continuing to work closely with surveyors, contractors and the Health & Safety Executive to facilitate a return to normal operations as soon as possible and minimise the impact on our customers.”

Landside operations have continued to operate well throughout the disruption with additional straddle carrier resources being deployed to service receival and delivery of containers.