The Unified Command continued its response on Wednesday to an incident that caused an estimated 75 shipping containers to fall from the cargo ship Mississippi at Pier G at the Port of Long Beach.
An investigation led by the U.S. Coast Guard and the National Transportation Safety Board is underway to determine the cause of the incident, which occurred just before 9 a.m. Tuesday.
The Unified Command – consisting of federal, state and local agencies – is working to ensure a safe and timely recovery of the cargo containers. Sonar surveys are being conducted to locate approximately 25 to 30 containers submerged in the harbor to ensure the safe navigation of ship traffic.
A salvage plan is being developed and will be implemented as soon as possible. One of the Unified Command’s top priorities is continuing to ensure the safety of workers and others on scene while also assessing the security of the surrounding area to prevent further damage.
A pollution response vessel remains on scene to address any potential discharge, and a boom has been deployed to contain the containers in a designated area.
Dockworkers are unloading containers from a separate ship that was berthed at Pier G before the incident, and truck drivers are moving containers to and from the terminal. No other terminals or port operations have been affected.
The Coast Guard continues to maintain a 500-yard safety zone on the water surrounding the Mississippi. Nonresponding personnel are asked to remain clear of the affected area until further notice.
The Coast Guard is broadcasting hourly marine safety information to alert mariners of navigation hazards.
To read the previous press releases about the incident, please click here for the initial release.
