WILLEMSTAD - In Curaçao a ship that transported two gantry cranes collided against the Juliana Bridge, presumably as a result of the current and the wind. The 56-meter-high bridge was closed for some time for road traffic but has since been opened again. The damage to the bridge is not too bad, but the cranes are badly damaged.

The cranes are made in China and were only three-quarters built to pass under the bridge. The cranes would then be assembled in the port. Initially, two to three months were reserved for the operation, but due to the accident, the complete build-up of the cranes will take longer.

The collision was followed by thousands of Curaçaoans on the spot and live via television. The owner of the container port Curaçao Port Services (CPS) had called on the public via the media to come and watch the spectacle of moving the cranes.

(Photo credit: Martin Rode)

Important

Both the container port and the Juliana Bridge are important for the economy of Curaçao. The old cranes were often broken and that often led to delays in the handling of perishable goods. Curaçao had to wait three years for the much-needed replacement.

The Juliana Bridge was built in 1967 under the supervision of the Directorate-General for Public Works and Water Management to connect the east and west sides of the island across the Anna Bay. The bridge is so high to allow heavy tankers to enter the oil refinery. During construction, the bridge collapsed due to welding faults, killing 15 workers.

A special thanks to Martin Rode for the pictures