Container Ship Crashes Into Quay At Port Of Muuga, Damages Pier & Bulker

A newly launched container ship, the CMA CGM Mermaid, hit a quay and another vessel at the Port of Muuga in Estonia on September 8, damaging the pier and a nearby bulker. No one was injured.

The accident occurred at around 11:50 UTC when the CMA CGM Mermaid was arriving from Kotka. Local media images show that the ship’s plumb bow cut several meters into the quay, leaving a sizable chunk of the wharf damaged.

The nearby bulker, Belasitza, also suffered bow damage in the collision. The damage to the container ship itself has not been disclosed.

MarineTraffic data indicates that the ship’s navigational status changed to “aground” at 15:00 UTC. Additionally, the ship’s Automatic Identification System (AIS) was inactive for almost three hours after the collision, with the signal only returning before dusk.

Port authorities have contacted the ship’s crew and launched an investigation to determine the cause of the accident.

The CMA CGM Mermaid is a modern container feeder launched in 2024 by the Marseille-based shipping company CMA CGM. It is the first of a series of ten sister ships designed for improved energy efficiency. The vessel, built by Hyundai Mipo Dockyard in South Korea, is 205 meters long, has a gross tonnage of 32,245 tons, and a container capacity of 2,000 TEU.

The vessel is LNG-powered and is designed to reduce CO2 emissions by up to 20 percent. CMA CGM officially ordered the series in February 2024.

The ship features a sharp, plumb bow, a modern design aimed at improving wave penetration and fuel efficiency. Experts say such designs, while energy-saving, can increase the risk of structural damage to port infrastructure if docking maneuvers are not precise.

As of the morning of September 11, the CMA CGM Mermaid remained moored alongside the damaged quay at Muuga Port while the investigation continues. The port is working closely with the ship’s crew to clarify the circumstances leading to the collision.

References: jctrans, ouest-france

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