Complete Maritime Profile & Reviews of Apl-Mexico-City

Nearly three months post-incident, the removal of a massive gantry crane that collapsed after being struck by the container vessel 'APL Mexico City' is now underway in Antwerp. The vessel ran adrift in the Port of Antwerp on December 9, 2022, leading to the crane's fall into the Scheldt River at Deurganck dock, specifically at quay 1702 (DP World). On March 3, 2023, the sheerleg crane 'Brabo,' operated by the Antwerp Port Authority, initiated the critical operation to extract the wreckage from the water. Throughout this period, portions of the dock remained closed to maritime activities, with navigational buoys installed to guide passing vessels safely around the site. The clearing operation began at 8:30 a.m. with 'Brabo' lifting debris, while the sonar survey vessel 'Echo' is scheduled to inspect the riverbed for any further obstructions. The return to unrestricted navigation in the Deurganck dock depends on the complete removal of the debris. After the accident, the 'APL Mexico City' continued its journey, departing Antwerp on December 15, heading to Brest for repairs, which lasted from December 17 until January 20. As of mid-March, the vessel was moored near Felixstowe at coordinates 51° 55.95' N, 001° 42.63' E before moving to Coryton on March 11-12, and finally arriving at Rotterdam on March 13, marking its return to operational status.

Operations at DP World’s Deurganck dock in Doel have resumed following the unfortunate crane collapse, but the removal process will take several weeks to complete. This incident occurred when the crane was struck by the vessel 'APL Mexico City', leading to its total collapse. A safety perimeter has been established around the accident site to ensure secure operations. As of November 9 at 10 p.m., the handling of ships and trucks recommenced. In light of this backlog, the terminal is expected to experience increased activity in the coming days, with additional trucks scheduled to optimize time slots for cargo movement. The crane’s removal will proceed promptly, coordinated with specialized teams, to minimize disruptions to ongoing operations. A long-term replacement for the damaged crane is planned. The 'APL Mexico City' remained docked at quay 1700 until further notice and departed the port on December 15 at 3:40 p.m. after offloading. The vessel then headed to Brest, where it arrived at the Damen Shiprepair Yard at 4 p.m. Following its repairs, completed on January 20 at 2:30 p.m., the ship set sail towards the North Atlantic.

DP World has officially resumed its operations at the terminal on December 10, following a disruption caused by the 'APL Mexico City' incident at Deurganck Dock in the Waasland Port of Antwerp. In an effort to address the backlog, DP World Antwerp plans to accommodate more trucks within the existing time slots. The 'APL Mexico City' was docked at the nearby PSA facility when it succumbed to strong winds, breaking free and colliding with a quay crane at DP World's terminal. This forceful impact resulted in the crane collapsing into the water, though fortunately, there were no reported injuries during the incident. The damaged vessel remains docked at DP World while awaiting necessary repairs. The terminal management is prioritizing the safe removal of the crane's debris, which will be conducted in collaboration with specialized services. This cleanup process may extend over several weeks, but it's worth noting that the affected crane was situated in a less frequently used area of the quay, primarily serving smaller service operations. To mitigate operational disruptions, DP World has taken significant steps and plans to replace the impacted crane in the long term.