A major container collapse occurred aboard the MV Mississippi on Tuesday morning at Pier G in the Port of Long Beach, sending more than 50 containers into the harbour waters.
A Unified Command comprising the U.S. Coast Guard, Long Beach Fire Department, and Port of Long Beach authorities has been established to coordinate the response.
Aerial surveillance of the affected area is being carried out by Air Station Ventura.
According to initial reports, the incident began with the aft stack of containers before spreading towards the forward section near the vessel’s superstructure.
Several containers also fell onto an adjacent emissions-capture barge operated by STAX Engineering, which was moored alongside the vessel at the time.
The Portugal-registered ship is owned by MPC Container Ships ASA through its subsidiary MPC ECOBOX OPCO 4 AS.
The Mississippi had arrived in Long Beach earlier on Tuesday following a voyage from Yantian, China.
Pier G, the site of the collapse, is operated by International Transportation Service (ITS). Port authorities have not yet confirmed whether there will be disruptions to operations or environmental impacts arising from the incident.
The collapse comes at a time of heightened scrutiny of container safety in the global shipping industry. A recent World Shipping Council (WSC) report revealed that more than 11 per cent of inspected cargo shipments in 2024 were found to have deficiencies.
To reduce losses at sea, the WSC recently introduced the CTU Code Quick Guide and Checklist, designed to promote safer packing, handling, and transportation of cargo transport units, including freight containers.
The STAX barge affected in the incident forms part of an emissions-control system launched earlier this year.
In April, STAX Engineering showcased its integrated emissions and carbon capture technology, intended to help shipping companies meet increasingly stringent environmental regulations.
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