Quay crane topples during delivery at Tuas Port, no injuries reported

A quay crane toppled during delivery at Tuas Port on 15 June, though no injuries were reported, according to a joint statement issued by the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) and PSA Singapore.

The incident occurred at a non-operational berth, and authorities said an immediate assessment confirmed that no damage was caused to surrounding equipment or port facilities.

PSA Singapore confirmed that all operational berths remain fully accessible. Port activities and ongoing development works at Tuas Port continue without disruption, the joint statement added.

Footage circulating on social media shortly after the incident showed the toppled crane lying across part of the berth. The video highlighted the scale of the collapse, with the crane’s frame visibly bent and damaged.

In one clip, a worker can be heard exclaiming that “Sany has fallen,” referring to the crane’s manufacturer, SANY Heavy Industry (三一重工), a major Chinese construction and port equipment supplier.

The remark came from a man who appeared to have driven under the crane moments earlier. His reaction underscored the severity of the collapse and his narrow escape from potential harm.

In port operations, it is common for workers to refer to cranes and heavy machinery by their brand names rather than specific models. As a result, “Sany” was used informally to identify the equipment involved in the accident.

Authorities have launched an investigation into the cause of the collapse. As of now, no further details have been released about the circumstances leading up to the incident.

Tuas Port is Singapore’s latest mega-port project and is being developed in phases, with completion expected by the 2040s. Once fully operational, it is projected to handle up to 65 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) of cargo annually, consolidating Singapore’s container operations into a single, automated hub.

The port is already equipped with some of the world’s largest quay cranes, designed to service mega-container vessels. Delivery and installation of such equipment is a routine process, though accidents during handling and assembly are rare.

This incident comes amid heightened global attention to port safety and infrastructure resilience, as major maritime hubs adapt to increasing vessel sizes and higher cargo volumes.

Investigations by MPA and PSA are expected to examine whether equipment failure, handling procedures, or other factors contributed to the crane’s collapse. Findings will inform future protocols to strengthen operational safety during crane deliveries.