NTSB: Vessel crane contact with shore-side crane
- Safety Flash
- Published on 18 June 2025
- Generated on 12 June 2026
- IMCA SF 11/25
- 2 minute read
What happened?
The National Transportation Safety Board of the United States (NTSB) has published Report MIR-25-09 and Investigation DCA24FM014 into an incident in which a crane on a crane barge came into unplanned contact with a shore-side crane, causing $4.5 million worth of damage.
A towing vessel was pushing crane barge Stevens 1471 in the Cooper River at North Charleston, SC, when the barge crane contacted a dockside crane at the North Charleston Terminal. There were no injuries, and no pollution was reported. Damage to the terminal’s crane was estimated to be over $4.5 million.
What went wrong?
Investigation determined that the probable cause of the contact of the crane barge with the dockside crane was a failure to properly identify that the ship-to-shore crane was an overhead hazard.
The lessons
Understand that dockside cranes, overbridges and other structures such as offshore platforms and offshore wind turbine installations may be a significant overhead hazard. Dockside cranes in particular, when conducting cargo operations on a vessel and in the lowered position, may extend considerably beyond the side of the vessel and become a hazard to tall vessels (with high air drafts) transiting nearby. Ensure bridge crew know the dimensions of the vessel they are in control of.
Related Safety Flashes
-
IMCA SF 07/25
16 April 2025
-
IMCA SF 23/21
19 August 2021
-
IMCA SF 25/21
13 September 2021
-
-
IMCA SF 23/24
27 November 2024
IMCA Safety Flashes summarise key safety matters and incidents, allowing lessons to be more easily learnt for the benefit of the entire offshore industry.
The effectiveness of the IMCA Safety Flash system depends on the industry sharing information and so avoiding repeat incidents. Incidents are classified according to IOGP's Life Saving Rules.
All information is anonymised or sanitised, as appropriate, and warnings for graphic content included where possible.
IMCA makes every effort to ensure both the accuracy and reliability of the information shared, but is not be liable for any guidance and/or recommendation and/or statement herein contained.
The information contained in this document does not fulfil or replace any individual's or Member's legal, regulatory or other duties or obligations in respect of their operations. Individuals and Members remain solely responsible for the safe, lawful and proper conduct of their operations.
Share your safety incidents with IMCA online. Sign-up to receive Safety Flashes straight to your email.