Cranes damaged during delivery to Wilmington, N.C.

Cranes damaged during delivery to Wilmington, N.C. A heavy-lift ship carrying four container cranes from their manufacturer in China to the North Carolina State Ports Authority docks in Wilmington hit a dredge Saturday afternoon as it steamed up the Cape Fear River.
   According to the U.S. Coast Guard, catwalks on the rear of the cranes were damaged, but no one was injured and there was no pollution. The canes, manufactured by Zhenhua Port Machinery Co. (ZMPC) collectively cost $33 million.
   Coast Guard officials are investigating the crash, which happened about 5 p.m. The inquiry will include drug and alcohol tests on the 20-member crew of the Chinese ship, 'Zhen Hua 16,' which collided with the dredge 'Cherokee.'
   The river had been cleared of traffic from noon to 6 p.m. Saturday so the 788-foot ship could make the trip from the river mouth at Southport to Wilmington.
   The dredge had been moved across the river from near the terminal where it had been working earlier in the day. But as the ship passed the dredge and prepared to turn, the crane arms and the dredge collided.
   The cranes were slated to be unloaded Tuesday, but it is unclear now what the schedule will be. They originally were expected to begin operating in April.
   The cranes are linchpins of the Port of Wilmington's $143 million container terminal expansion. Prior to coming to Wilmington, the ship had unloaded two cranes in the Port of Kingston, Jamaica.