Two people lost their lives and more than 20 others were injured after a large floating crane capsized in Sevastopol’s Southern Bay on October 28, according to the city’s Russian-installed governor Mikhail Razvozhaev.

Officials identified the victims as an electromechanic and a sailor. Seven of the injured were taken to hospital, while others received medical attention at the scene.

The incident occurred during maintenance at the Sevastopol Marine Plant after an “abnormal situation” caused the crane vessel to tip over. Per local reports, the crane tipped onto its side in the bay, throwing several workers into the water.

Authorities confirmed that the crane was undergoing a lifting test at the time of the accident and had not yet been officially put into service.

Following the incident, Russia’s Investigative Committee for Crimea and Sevastopol announced the launch of a criminal case to examine potential safety violations in maritime operations that resulted in multiple deaths.

Local media outlet Krymsky Veter identified the vessel as the heavy floating crane PK-700 “Grigory Prosyankin.”

Video Credits: EMERGENCY CRIMEA/YouTube 

The vessel was laid down in November 2018 and designed with a lifting capacity of 700 tons and a displacement of 6,200 tons. It was originally intended for use in the construction and repair of nuclear submarines and large surface ships at the Sevmash shipyard.

However, the project had faced several delays. Per reports, the Sevastopol Marine Plant was unable to complete construction on its own due to financial problems.

In 2023, there were plans to dismantle the unfinished hull and transport it to Sevmash in Severodvinsk for completion, as the crane was only about 65% finished at that time.

Local outlet Forpost reported that the crane was originally set for delivery by the end of 2020, but work was stopped because of funding issues. It remains unclear when construction work on the crane resumed before the tragic incident.

Razvozhaev stated that a special commission has been formed to investigate the cause of the accident. The Investigative Committee will focus on possible negligence or violations of safety rules during the crane’s testing process.

References: TASS, themoscowtimes