On November 9, 2026, the container ship Maersk Cincinnati struck a ship-to-shore crane while berthing at Yantian port in Shenzhen, China. The crane subsequently collapsed.

The incident occurred around noon local time at berth 12. Operated by Maersk, the vessel measures 366 metres in length and has a capacity of 15,516 TEU.

Crane collapsed towards the container yard

Images and videos circulated on Chinese social media show the collapsed structure. Parts of the crane were lying near the vessel, while the main structure fell towards the terminal yard.

The extent of damage to the ship and port equipment has not been established. No confirmed reports of injuries were available in the reviewed coverage. Any impact on terminal operations also remains unclear.

Strong winds considered a possible factor

Shenzhen meteorological authorities issued a warning for Yantian and surrounding waters on the morning of November 9, forecasting wind gusts of force 8 or above.

Industry reports suggest sudden gusts may have affected the vessel during berthing. However, the cause of the collision has not been officially established, and the possible role of weather remains preliminary.

Vessel serving Asia–Northern Europe trade

Built in 2024 and sailing under the Singapore flag, Maersk Cincinnati was operating voyage 645W on the NE3 Asia–Northern Europe service within Gemini Cooperation.

According to AIS information cited in reports published on November 10, the vessel remained alongside at Yantian. Its planned onward rotation included Ningbo and Shanghai, followed by Tanjung Pelepas in Malaysia and European ports.

Changes to the schedule following the incident have not been confirmed. The available reports also contain no detailed account from Maersk or the terminal operator regarding the consequences.