Witnesses reported tense moments as a container ship struck two barges at the Port of Santos, with crew members jumping overboard seconds before the collision.
On the night of Monday, the 16th, a container ship named Seaspan Empire, registered in Singapore, collided with two barges in the Port of Santos, located on the coast of São Paulo, Brazil. Witnesses recounted scenes of panic as crew members aboard one of the barges, FB-15, jumped into the sea moments before the impact, which occurred around 9:30 PM. Thankfully, despite the frightening situation, there were no reported injuries in the incident.
The incident unfolded when the Seaspan Empire was leaving the canal but lacked space to dock, leading it to collide with the FB-15 and FB-14 barges, which are normally used for ferrying passengers between Santos and Guarujá. The barge FB-15 was towing the inactive FB-14 at the time of the accident. Witness Edna Basílio captured the moment on video as she was returning to Santos after a visit to Guarujá, stating she started filming because she sensed something unusual was about to happen.
The collision has raised questions regarding safety measures in the busy maritime area and the protocols that govern large vessels navigating through crowded harbors. Despite the lack of injuries, the events serve as a stark reminder of the potential hazards inherent in maritime transportation, particularly in busy ports where many vessels are in close proximity to one another.
