Operations at the Kingston Container Terminal (KCT) were halted for several hours yesterday after a worker was crushed by a straddle carrier.

Dead is Trevor Fennel, 46-year-old stevedore co-ordinator of Yallahs, St Thomas, who was working on the terminal about 5 a.m. yesterday when the straddle carrier ran over him, killing him on the spot.

A straddle carrier is a vehicle used for stacking and moving standard containers.

Port chaplain the Reverend Christopher Mason has offered counselling and prayers to workers who were shaken by the incident.

Janet Smith, personal assistant to the managing director, told The Gleaner that the accident had adversely affected operations.

"It affected production somewhat and a sombre mood has set over the place," she said. "You can see the effect on the faces of workers as the worker was good and was loved by all."

She said vessel operations (the offloading/and unloading of ships) were expected to restart late yesterday afternoon.

The Gleaner was told that the deceased was the father of two and had been employed to the KCT since February 2002.

"A long time him a work here and it really sad but things do happen,'' Marcus Ewan, a customer, said.

The Newport West police are conducting a full investigation into the matter.

rasbert.turner@gleanerjm.com