On this occasion mooring lines needed to be cut. The anchors fouled ropes while being lifted and the tow rope parted from the bow tug just as the ship was about to move off the berth.

The Zhen Hua 23 is one several specialist vessels adapted by the Chinese crane manufacturer ZPMC to carry their dockside cranes from China to ports around the world. The five cranes on board included three for delivery to Felixstowe’s Trinity Terminal, one for Thamesport and one for Gothenburg. The crane for Sweden, which was loaded nearest the stern, was damaged in the incident and a 30 tonne section of the boom had to be removed before the ship could move. The crane for Thamesport is understood to be the one which had previously been damaged at Trinity and which had been returned to China for repair in 2007. Thamesport, in common with Felixstowe, is part of the Hutchison Whampoa group.

The Zhen Hua 23 is owned and managed by Shanghai Zhenhua Shipping Co, and was transferrd to the Hong Kong shipping registry in December 2007. The 243m LOA, 37,879gt vessel was built as a 50,285gt tanker in 1986 at the Kasado Dockyard for Japanese owners and named Rich Duchess, a sister to the Rich Duke. It is powered by a Sulzer 6RTA76 min engine rated at 22,106bhp. Originally managed by Norwegian interests, and flying the Bahamas flag, Rich Duchess was chartered to Skaugen Petrotrans Tankers from May 2001 to February 2003 and more recently it was reported sold to Chinese buyers for around US$13m.

This was the ship’s maiden voyage to Europe as a crane carrying vessel. It was reportedly detained in Las Palmas in February for six days with seven deficiencies. On 28 February it anchored at the Outer Sunk Anchorage and arrived in Felixstowe on 29 February. Early on the morning of 1 March it slipped it moorings in 80mph winds and moved back along the quay about 200m, smashing the two quayside cranes.

Following the incident at Felixstowe an inspection revealed 11 deficiencies, including one which was for mooring arrangements under ILO 147. The Landguard terminal was back in operation on March 27. The small feeder vessels which use the Landguard terminal have been accommodated temporarily at other berths in the port.
By Graeme Ewens