Maersk Cincinnati crane strike threatens Yantian 2026 growth targets

A crane strike by the 15,516 TEU Maersk Cincinnati at Yantian International Container Terminals (YICT) has knocked out a central deepwater berth, threatening the terminal’s 2026 growth targets. The incident occurred on 9 November as the vessel attempted to berth during windy conditions.

The 366-meter vessel struck a ship-to-shore (STS) crane at Berth 12 while its booms were in the raised position. The affected crane partially collapsed, leaving its boom resting on an adjacent crane. Maersk Line reported no injuries and stated that terminal operations continue at other berths while an investigation involving the vessel owner and authorities begins.

YICT, a joint venture between Hutchison Port Holdings and Shenzhen Yantian Port Group, operates 20 deepwater berths and handles approximately 40-45% of all container throughput at the Port of Shenzhen. The terminal reached a record monthly throughput of 1.6 million TEU in August.

Why it matters

The loss of one crane among more than 80 at the terminal might seem minor, but the location of Berth 12 in the center of the Phase III area creates a localized bottleneck. Removing the collapsed structure and surveying the second damaged crane will likely take significant time, rendering a key deepwater berth unusable for the duration of the recovery.

This disruption hits while Shenzhen terminals are already battling vessel congestion and weather delays. Because YICT manages nearly half of the port’s volume, the temporary loss of a deepwater berth reduces the system’s ability to clear the existing backlog. For charterers and cargo owners, this points to continued scheduling volatility in the Shenzhen area.

The incident specifically jeopardizes YICT’s long-term operational goals. A source suggested to WorldCargo News that the resulting disruption makes it difficult for the terminal to meet its target of handling 17 million TEU in 2026. While the terminal is a high-volume performer, the friction caused by a central berth closure limits the surge capacity needed to hit those multi-year growth figures.

What to watch

The timeline for the removal of the collapsed crane and the subsequent safety assessment of the adjacent STS crane will determine how long Berth 12 remains out of service. Any prolonged closure will force a revision of throughput expectations for the 2026 calendar year.

Source: World Cargo News