A massive container ship in New York waters lost power and came to a halt near a major bridge in the city – just days after a failure on another huge cargo vessel in Baltimore caused it to smash into a bridge.
The container ship APL Qingdao lost propulsion around 8:30pm while travelling through New York harbour, the US Coast Guard confirmed.
The vessel, which weighs a staggering 89,000 tonnes, was traversing Kill Van Kull waterway — the shipping lane between Staten Island and Bayonne, New Jersey.
The three-mile waterway is one of the most heavily travelled in the port area, the United States Army said.
An image shared on social media by John Konrad, chief executive of maritime-themed news organization gCaptain, showed the 1,100 foot-long ship floating uncomfortably close to the Verrazzano Bridge.
Responding to the power failure, three tugboats were sent to the scene to bring the Qingdao under control. No damage or injuries were reported.
“Coast Guard Vessel Traffic Service New York received a report from the M/V Qingdao around 8:30pm, Saturday, that the vessel had experienced a loss of propulsion in the Kill Van Kull waterway,” a Coast Guard spokesperson told The New York Post.
“The vessel regained propulsion and was assisted to Stapleton Anchorage by tugs.”
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The incident comes just weeks after another massive container ship lost power and its ability to manoeuvre.
The cargo ship Dali smashed into a support pylon of the Francis Scott Key Bridge, causing the 9,000-foot structure to collapse.
The crash claimed the lives of six construction workers, with three of the bodies later being recovered from the Patapsco River.
Maritime transit was ground to a halt in the vital Port of Baltimore as a result of the collapse. Speaking to CBS, Maryland Governor Wes Moore said it was “realistic” that normal operations would resume on the waterway by May.
“It is an aggressive timeline, but we are going to work around the clock to make sure we hit this timeline,” Moore said.
Both vessels suffered from a loss of propulsion.
The Qingdao was only allowed to resume its voyage to Charleston, South Carolina, when certain requirements were met. The crew also had to provide a report detailing what led to the loss of propulsion.
According to vesselfinder.com, the ship is 12 years old and is operated by French shipping and logistics company CMA CGM.
