RECOVERY efforts have begun at Long Beach after dozens of containers on board the Zim-operated Mississippi (IMO: 9954187) collapsed on Tuesday.

A unified command (consisting of the coastguard, Port of Long Beach and Long Beach fire department) said an estimated 75 containers fell from the 2024-built, 5,500 teu Mississippi on Tuesday at 0848 hrs, up from the initial figure of 67. The vessel was carrying 2,412 containers at the time of the incident. 

Work is underway to open a channel and allow ships to safely transit to and from the terminal.

Sonar surveys are being conducted to locate about 30 containers that were submerged in the harbour to allow for safe traffic of ships. Two sunken cargo containers were retrieved from the bottom of the basin on Wednesday. They have been moved to a designated area surrounded by a boom.

A pollution response vessel remains on scene for any potential discharge. The source of a fuel leak originating from an at-berth emissions control barge alongside Mississippi was secured on Wednesday. The tank contained about 2,000 gallons of diesel.

A boom has been deployed to Pier G, where Mississippi is berthed, to contain the containers in the area. Dockworkers are currently unloading containers from a separate ship that was berthed at Pier G before the stack collapse. Truck drivers can move containers to and from the terminal. Operations at other terminals at the port have not been affected and are continuing as usual.

There are 22 cargo terminals at Long Beach, six of which handle containers. The port handled more than 9m teu last year, and is the second-busiest US port behind neighbouring Los Angeles.

The 500-yard safety zone on the water surrounding Mississippi that was created immediately after the incident is still in place.

One minor injury has been reported related to the incident. 

Long Beach mayor Rex Richardson said his city was “grateful that no one was hurt and that everyone is safe, especially our local dockworkers”.

“While events like this are extremely rare at the port of Long Beach, they underscore the importance of protecting the safety of our workers, first responders and the public.”

An investigation by the US Coast Guard and the National Transportation Safety Board to determine the cause of the incident is ongoing.

According to the unified command, a salvage plan is being developed and will be implemented as soon as possible. The priority, according to the statement, is to ensure the safety of workers on scene and secure the surrounding area to prevent further damage.

US Coast Guard captain Stacey Crecy, who commands the Los Angeles-Long Beach Sector, said the situation was still “dynamic” with “many unknowns”.

“However, we have contingency plans in place and are working with the intent to restore all port activities as soon and as safely as possible.”