Southampton docks' crane collapse raises questions over how it happened again

That was the question being asked today after a crane collapsed on to a container ship leaving its operator fighting for his life after plunging more than 100ft.

All shipside operations at Southampton’s container terminal have been suspended until further notice in a move that could lose the port millions of pounds.

The crane operator, named as Jay Squibb, was last night in a critical but stable condition at Southampton General Hospital.

He was believed to still be undergoing surgery some 14 hours after the disaster.

He had been at the controls of the terminal’s number six crane when it its boom – attached to his driver’s cab – collapsed on to the NYK Themis while loading containers yesterday morning.

Just 19 months ago another crane made by the same company – Morris – crashed down on to the Kyoto Express. Luckily no one was hurt.

Matt Tipper, Unite regional industrial organiser, said: “This is the second serious incident in nearly two years involving crane operations in DP World and we are obviously concerned over the health and safety implications for the workers there. This is of paramount importance to us and we will fully assist in the HSE investigation also providing full support to our member and his family at this very worrying time for them in every way we can.”

Yesterday paramedics, firefighters, police and the coastguard helicopter all helped to carry out the dramatic rescue at Dock Gate 20 after the emergency call came in at 5.20am.

Ambulance crews scrambled up ladders to scale the top of the ship’s crumpled containers where the driver lay trapped inside the mangled metal of his cab and collapsed boom.

As firefighters, including Redbridge and St Mary’s crews, worked to release him, paramedics were able to give pain relief to the critically injured man. It is understood he was conscious throughout his ordeal.

He was eventually put on a spinal board and winched to safety by Solent Coastguard’s helicopter and transferred to the dockside where a waiting ambulance took him to Southampton General Hospital.

Alex Grossart, South Central Ambulance’s operations manager, said: “It was difficult because the driver’s cabin was all part of the wreckage on the containers.

“The crew had to go up a series of ladders and were working on top of the damaged containers hit by the crane. They did not have a level floor to work on. We are very proud of them and they did a splendid job.”

He said Mr Squibb, aged in his 30s and from Woolston, was in a very serious condition when the ambulance crew got to him. He has a wife, Alison, and two young sons. It is understood his two brothers were both working at the container terminal during the shift when the accident happened.

Three inspectors from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) were yesterday sent to the container terminal to find out what caused the crane to collapse.

HSE officials say they are currently “tying up” that investigation.

It is understood their findings will be released within a month. Parts of that crane are still on site.

Although no one was hurt in last year’s incident the port was shut for weeks afterwards and three of the terminal’s cranes underwent “recommended precautionary works”.

The crane that collapsed in January 2008

However, it has not been confirmed if crane six – involved in yesterday’s accident – was among those that needed repairs.

An HSE spokesman refused to comment on either of their investigations as both are ongoing.

Now container terminal bosses face losing valuable business if the terminal is forced to remain fully or partially closed for up to three months – as it did last year.

Landside operations at the terminal resumed at midday yesterday, and last night the NYK Themis was moved along the dock away from the collapsed crane.

Managing director of the container terminal Campbell Mason, confirmed all shipside operations were currently suspended.