Cargo operations at the Port of Long Beach were disrupted on Tuesday morning after dozens of containers toppled from a ship at the Pier G terminal.
The incident, which occurred around 9 a.m., involved the vessel Mississippi. According to early estimates from the U.S. Coast Guard, at least 67 containers were lost when stacks collapsed, causing the ship to list to one side.
Representatives from the Coast Guard, Long Beach Fire Department, Long Beach Police Department, Army Corps of Engineers, the Port of Long Beach, and other commercial partners quickly established a Unified Command to manage the response.
Numerous vessels and aircraft were dispatched to secure the area, and a 500-yard safety zone has been set up around the Mississippi. The Coast Guard is also issuing hourly marine safety broadcasts to alert other vessels to the navigation hazards.
A clean air barge connected to the vessel at the time of the accident was damaged by several falling containers. No injuries have been reported, and officials confirmed that no other terminals or port operations were affected.
Cargo handling at Pier G has been temporarily suspended while responders work to stabilize the situation, although the terminal remains open to truckers. Port spokesperson Art Marroquin emphasized that safety of dockworkers and personnel is the top priority.
ZIM Integrated Shipping Services Ltd., operator of the vessel, confirmed the accident in a statement:
“An incident occurred at Port of Long Beach involving one of our vessels, during which containers fell overboard. There were no casualties reported, and the safety of crew and port personnel remains our top priority. ZIM is actively cooperating with local port authorities and relevant agencies to contain the situation and assess any potential environmental impact. We will continue to keep our customers and stakeholders informed as more details become available.”
The cause of the incident is under investigation. The Unified Command has requested that non-essential personnel remain clear of the area around the containers until further notice.
