Dozens of Shipping Containers Fall Into Ocean at Port of Long Beach After Vessel Lists
At least 50 containers slipped from the cargo ship Mississippi at Terminal G; operations were suspended and the U.S. Coast Guard established a safety zone as crews worked to secure lost cargo.
At least 50 shipping containers slipped off a cargo vessel and fell into the water at the Port of Long Beach on Tuesday, prompting an immediate suspension of operations at the terminal as crews, port officials and federal responders worked to secure the lost cargo.
The incident occurred just before 9 a.m. local time at Terminal G while the container ship Mississippi was docked, Port of Long Beach spokesman Art Marroquin told the Los Angeles Times. Video obtained by local broadcasters showed stacks of containers toppling over the side of the vessel and some striking an anti-pollution vessel moored alongside the Mississippi. The ship was seen listing to one side in footage provided to KTLA, and shoes and apparel were visible floating in the water in video shared by ABC7.
Port crews and private contractors were observed attempting to secure and recover the containers. A tugboat attempted to push some loose containers back toward the pier while crew members reportedly sprayed high-pressure water on floating containers to keep them from drifting further out to sea. The United States Coast Guard established a 500-yard safety zone around the ship and said it was assisting in response and recovery efforts, NBC Los Angeles reported.
No injuries were reported. Officials have not released an estimate of the value of the cargo involved or the number of containers badly damaged. The Mississippi had most recently been docked in China, according to port tracking, about two weeks before the incident.
One of the vessels affected was identified as the STAX 2, an anti-pollution ship attached to the Mississippi to capture emissions; some of the fallen containers appeared to land on or near that vessel, local footage showed. Port and federal authorities said an investigation into the cause of the collapse was underway, and they did not immediately offer a timeline for resuming full terminal operations.
The Port of Long Beach is one of the busiest container ports in the United States. It handles more than 9 million 20-foot equivalent units annually and, together with the adjacent Port of Los Angeles, accounts for roughly 40% of the nation’s container imports. Long Beach alone moves about a quarter of all containers on the U.S. West Coast, making any disruption potentially significant for supply chains that rely on timely unloading and distribution of imported goods.
Port officials and federal agencies said they were focused on securing hazards to navigation, preventing pollution and accounting for cargo lost overboard. The Coast Guard and port authorities will continue recovery operations while investigators examine loading practices, securing procedures and any mechanical or weather-related factors that may have contributed to the incident.
It remained unclear on Tuesday evening how long Terminal G would remain closed or what effect the loss of containers might have on vessel schedules and broader international shipping in the near term. Port officials said updates would be provided as more information became available.