Cargo Ship’s Crane Hits Vincent Thomas Bridge

A crane on a cargo ship struck the center span of the Vincent Thomas Bridge in San Pedro on Sunday afternoon, causing minor damage and shutting down ship and vehicle traffic for two hours.

Officials said the four-lane bridge, which connects San Pedro and Terminal Island, was closed for inspection about 4:45 p.m., shortly after the incident was reported. California Department of Transportation engineers were dispatched to the scene but found only slight damage to a catwalk beneath the bridge, said Theresa Adams Lopez, a spokeswoman for the Port of Los Angeles.

There were no reported injuries. Adams Lopez said there were no major traffic problems in the port area during the closing, and the bridge was reopened at 6:58 p.m., after safety concerns were allayed. “We’re lucky it was Sunday afternoon, without a lot of traffic,” Adams Lopez said.

The 620-foot-long ship, named the Beautiful Queen, is operated by the Pasha line and was carrying steel.

Adams Lopez said this was the first such accident in the five years she has worked for the port.

S. David Freeman, the president of the Los Angeles Board of Harbor Commissioners, said the ship left earlier than expected and appeared to have miscalculated the tides.

The U.S. Coast Guard will investigate the accident.