A maneuvering accident, possibly caused by an electrical
failure or another mechanical issue, set off a chain reaction collision at the
Algerian port of Bejaia. Some local media reports also suggested that there had
been a strong wind blowing which might have contributed to the accident.
At least one person working on the dock was injured and
three ships were damaged while neighbors reported a loud noise that shook their
homes.
The Liberian-flagged container ship Vega Sigma, a 485-foot
13,668 DWT vessel, had begun a maneuver to depart when the vessel lost control.
Unable to stop its maneuver, the Vega Sigma struck a second container ship
which was docked at the time. The 18,400 DWT Atlantic North, a 518-foot
container ship with a capacity of 1,129 TEU, was unloading.
The force of the impact sent the Atlantic North into a third
vessel, the 57,800 DWT bulk carrier Owl which was also on the dock. The bulker
was unloading a shipment of sugar from Brazil.
Also, a 64-ton crane truck unloading containers from the
Atlantic North topped over on the dock with its boom hitting the container
ship. Port officials credited the crane operator’s quick response with
preventing more serious injuries. However, the crane operator himself was
reportedly taken to a local hospital.