From a friend at Maldives we've learned that earlier this morning at Male port, while loading empty containers aboard the Liberian flagged C/V EM ASTORIA with the vessel's after end deck crane, the lifting appliance's elevation wire (topping lift) apparently broke, sending the boom into a quick descent.

From a friend at Maldives we've learned that earlier this morning at Male port, while loading empty containers aboard the Liberian flagged C/V EM ASTORIA with the vessel's after end deck crane, the lifting appliance's elevation wire (topping lift) apparently broke, sending the boom into a quick descent.

We've been made to understand that no workers were injured, a fact that we're grateful about.

Owing to failures like this one (and many others), the condition of vessel's deck cranes has been drawn into increasing amounts of scrutiny of late. An IMO working group is studying the attendant problems, and will hopefully have the intestinal fortitude to act in an appropriate (and timely) manner.

to Longshore Safety

President at The Blueoceana Company, Inc.

Ron Signorino‎Longshore Safety