A DC9-10 WHILE BEING GUIDED ON TO A GATE STRUCK A CONTAINER LOADER INCURRING DAMAGE TO THE L WINGTIP.

Narrative

AFTER UNEVENTFUL LNDG AND TAXI; A TURN WAS MADE INTO GATE XZ. AFTER QUICK SCAN OF AN APPARENTLY CLR GATE AREA (SAFETY ZONE); I (CAPT) FOCUSED ON THE YELLOW NOSEWHEEL LINE AND THE SIGNALS OF THE MARSHALLER. THE MARSHALLER SIGNALED US IN ROUTINELY TO WHAT SEEMED TO BE A NORMAL PARKING AND SETTING OF BRAKES. AFTER THE AGENT OPENED THE DOOR; A MECH (OR RAMP PERSON) STEPPED INTO THE COCKPIT TO INFORM THE FLC THAT THE L WINGTIP HAD BRUSHED UP AGAINST A CONTAINER LOADER THAT WAS POSITIONED BTWN GATES XZ AND XY. WE WERE QUITE SURPRISED AT THIS SINCE WE NEITHER FELT NOR HEARD (NOR DID THE FLT ATTENDANTS) ANYTHING UNUSUAL AND THE FACT THAT WE RECEIVED NO STOP SIGNAL OR WARNING FROM THE MARSHALLER OR OTHER ASSORTED RAMP PERSONNEL IN THE AREA. I WENT OUTSIDE TO INSPECT AND FOUND A COUPLE OF SMALL SHALLOW DENTS ON THE L WINGTIP IN ADDITION TO SOME YELLOW PAINT SPECKS SCRAPED OFF THE CONTAINER LOADER. IN TOTAL; THE VISUAL EXTERNAL DAMAGE SEEMED VERY MINIMAL. THE ACFT WAS INSPECTED AND RETURNED TO LINE FLYING APPROX 1 1/2 HRS LATER.