Virginia Port Agency Sues Chinese Company for $14.6M over Accident

A Chinese ship involved in an accident at APM Terminals in Portsmouth that damaged a new crane made by the vessel’s owner has been seized by federal authorities.

The federal court issued a warrant for the Zhen Hua 24 after the Virginia Port Authority and an affiliate sued the ship and its owner, Shanghai Zhenhua Port Machinery Co. Ltd., known as ZPMC.

The lawsuit seeks $14.65 million in damages.

Port officials say the ship delivered two new cranes on Feb. 14 and was pulling away when another crane aboard the vessel clipped one crane on the dock, causing it to fall off its tracks.

The ship’s captain was appointed temporary custodian of the vessel on Thursday while the case is under review. The U.S. Marshals Service had been serving as the ship’s custodian.