The container that fell 12 meters and narrowly missed two workers was severely overloaded and the third accident this month at Darwin Port, said the MUA.
Two workers at the Darwin Port had to run to avoid a shipping container crashing onto East Arm Wharf at the weekend, the Maritime Union of Australia says.
The container was listed as four tonnes but the Maritime Union says it weighed 28 tonnes and exceeded the crane’s load limit.
The union’s Thomas Mayor says two workers were lucky to get out of the way.
“It was a near miss,” he said.
“One of the guys fell backwards as he tried to get out of the way and the container landed only 10 foot from where he was.”
Mr Mayor says the latest incident is the third at the Darwin Port this month.
“We had an incident where a guy has fallen down in a container hold,” he said.
“There was also another incident where a crane boom has been out of control. Once again a flag of convenience ship.”