BREAKING: A cargo ship incident at the Port of Long Beach has led to significant damage, including approximately 75 cargo containers spilling into the water early Tuesday morning. The U.S. Coast Guard and the National Transportation Safety Board are actively investigating this mishap, which occurred around 9 a.m. during the offloading process of the vessel named Mississippi.
Authorities report a light oil sheen from a barge connected to the Mississippi, raising environmental concerns as cleanup efforts intensify. Fortunately, no major injuries were reported, although one worker aboard the barge suffered a sprained ankle while fleeing the falling containers. Mayor Rex Richardson expressed relief that no serious injuries occurred, stating, “We are fortunate. It could have been a whole lot worse.”
Long Beach Fire Chief Dennis Buchanan confirmed that fire units arrived on the scene at 9:06 a.m., discovering several containers leaning against a gantry crane. Emergency personnel quickly established a perimeter to ensure safety as they worked to contain the situation.
The cargo, including clothes, furniture, shoes, and electronics, is now floating in the harbor. Responders from the Long Beach Police and Fire departments are utilizing boats to corral the debris. In a statement, U.S. Coast Guard Capt. Stacey Crecy noted that the oil sheen is believed to be from the barge, which was loaded with approximately 2,000 gallons of renewable diesel. “We believe that it could be coming either from the generator on board the barge or the tank,” Crecy stated.
A 500-yard safety zone has been established around the Mississippi, which was carrying a total of 2,412 containers. The Coast Guard is issuing hourly safety broadcasts to alert nearby vessels of potential hazards. Cleanup responsibilities will be shared between the owners of the cargo and the barge vessels, with ongoing assessments to determine the extent of the oil spill.
As the investigation continues, officials are exploring multiple factors that may have contributed to the incident, including human and mechanical error. Crecy mentioned that drug and alcohol testing will also be part of the inquiry. However, Gary Herrera, president of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union Local 13, contested claims of human error, asserting that union workers were not at fault.
This incident comes just days after the Port of Long Beach was recognized as the Best West Coast seaport in North America for the seventh consecutive year by Asia Cargo News, highlighting the port’s critical role in global trade. The port handles over 9 million twenty-foot containers annually, representing a quarter of all containers on the West Coast.
As the situation unfolds, residents and businesses near the port are advised to stay tuned for further updates. Cleanup teams are on-site, and authorities are working diligently to recover the lost containers while minimizing environmental impacts and restoring normal operations at the port. This developing story will be updated as new information emerges.
