ROME – Italian prosecutors placed the captain of the Jolly Nero cargo ship under investigation Wednesday for alleged manslaughter after his vessel slammed into the dock at Genoa’s busy port and toppled the control tower into the harbor, killing at least seven people.

As rescue teams searched for two other missing people, officials began piecing together how the 40-ton container ship could have sideswiped the port’s control tower when weather and sea conditions were “perfect” on Tuesday night. The focus was on whether human error or a technical malfunction was to blame.

Additional Photos

Rescue personnel stand in the wreckage of the control tower in the port of Genoa, Italy. At least seven were killed when the 40-ton ship slammed into the tower and dock. The Associated Press

The crash occurred around 11 p.m. as the Jolly Nero was backing out of Genoa’s port accompanied by two tugboats and with a harbor pilot on its bridge. At the same time, a shift change was taking place among employees at the control tower, meaning more people were in the building than usual.

“This event is unbelievable because we had the best weather navigation conditions,” said Luigi Merlo, president of Genoa’s port authority.

Transport Minister Maurizio Lupi told Parliament possible causes of the crash could include an engine malfunction, problems with the cables between the container ship and the tugs guiding it, mistakes with the maneuver itself or with the speed at which the ship backed out of its berth and turned around.

The Jolly Nero’s captain, Roberto Paoloni, and the harbor pilot on board were placed under investigation for alleged manslaughter, Genoa prosecutor Michele di Lecce told reporters.

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