An Italian cruise ferry Excellent reportedly struck a gantry crane in Barcelona, Spain today, causing containers to fall to the pier and catch fire, according to the FleetMon tracking/maritime news website.
Written by maritime online journalist Mikhail Voytenko, the article states that the ferry accident may have been caused, presumably, by a combination of bad weather/ stormy wind and poor handling of the vessel.
The website explains that the vessel was a auto/truck “ro-ro” (i.e., roll-on / roll-off) and passenger ferry which operated between Genoa, Barcelona and Tangier. The ferry is operated by Genoa-based GNV.
The video (credit to Bulgarian Seaman Petar Petrov via Maritime.bg) shows dock workers scurrying from under the large crane as it tilts over and drops several containers onto the pier, apparently containing flammable cargo, which burst into flames.
The FleetMon account states that the fire was extinguished by city fire engines. The ferry, which was taken under control and berthed, reportedly suffered damage to its bow.
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Photo and video credit: Petar Petrov via Maritime.bg, zidyboby Facebook page and FleetMon.